Fewer Austrians than ever before are interested in politics, according to a poll. Research group Imas said yesterday (Weds) only five per cent of citizens explained they were “strongly interested” in developments in interior politics. Around three in four admitted being indifferent or uninterested. Imas explained the percentage figure of those very interested has never […]
A Tyrolean town has rejected a group of Turkish businesspeople’s appeal to run a school. A commission formed by Rum Town Hall officials announced yesterday (Tues) it unanimously agreed to veto the endeavour. Turkish investors and retail trade entrepreneurs asked decision-makers whether they could create and manage a private school. The group aimed at setting […]
Federal President Heinz Fischer has been criticised for backing calls for higher taxes on assets. The former Social Democratic (SPÖ) member of the federal parliament (MP) said yesterday (Sun) he worried about the social peace and balance in the country. Fischer said he would like to put the opinion that Austria’s rich must not be […]
One of the country’s most influential politicians of the past 20 years has stepped down. Wolfgang Schüssel announced today (Mon) he decided to retire as member of the federal parliament (MP). The move comes after increasing pressure on the former chancellor in connection with alleged fraud and stock market value manipulation carried out by former […]
Barbara Prammer has said exposed occurrences within Telekom Austria (TA) are “almost unbearable.” The Social Democrat (SPÖ) is, as first president of the federal parliament, the highest political representative of Austria after President Heinz Fischer. Prammer appealed on prosecutors to present the results of their investigations as soon as possible. The Social Democrat also said […]
A controversial lobbyist raked in hundreds of thousands of Euros by getting Federal Railways (ÖBB) to buy the trademark rights for a registered name from him, an opposition politician has claimed. Peter Pilz, a member of the federal parliament (MP) of the Green Party, announced yesterday (Tues) he obtained a firm-internal audit report exposing the […]
The new heads of Viennese public transport provider Wiener Linien have remained tight-lipped about a possible reform of prices. Newspapers have been speculating for months that some tickets will become dearer in a few months’ time to allow the city government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and Greens to implement cheaper annual passes which currently […]
Vienna Medical University (MedUni) head Wolfgang Schütz has warned of a negative impact on services provided to residents of the Vienna region and patients at Austria’s largest clinic if the government refuses to increase its subsidies. The Republic of Austria has supported Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) with 270 million Euros since 2010. Schütz said today […]
Conservative decision-makers are expected to raise the pressure on Alexander Wrabetz after his re-election as head of national broadcaster ORF. Twenty-nine delegates of ORF’s 35-member foundation council confirmed Wrabetz in office after a two-hour hearing yesterday afternoon (Tues). The other members of the council abstained from voting. Wrabetz started his first term in 2006 thanks […]
A vast majority of Austrians want an anti-burka law, according to a new poll. Viennese public opinion agency Karmasin spoke with 500 Austrians to find that 71 per cent of them were in favour of such a law prohibiting wearing burkas in public places. Such veils cover women’s bodies expect a small gap for their […]