Raiffeisen confirms Pröll talks

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Finance

A Raiffeisen manager has fuelled speculations that former People’s Party (ÖVP) boss Josef Pröll could join the finance industry giant.Erwin Hameseder, head of Raiffeisenlandesbank Lower Austria-Vienna, said today (Weds) representatives of the bank discussed future options with the agricultural economist.Pröll retired from all his political functions – vice chancellor, finance minister and party leader – […]

Girl may make full recovery after dog attack

Categories
General News

A two-year-old girl underwent surgery after she was bitten in the face by a dog.The child was attacked by a friend’s Border Collie at a garden party in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, yesterday (Tues). The canine reportedly bit the kid when she tried to catch a tennis ball herself and that others had thrown into the air.The […]

Anti-nuclear energy protest in Vienna

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Politics

Hundreds of activists and worried citizens gathered to demonstrate against nuclear energy technology in Vienna yesterday (Mon).Around 1,000 people joined the event which was organised by environment protection organisation Global 2000 in the city centre of the Austrian capital. Members of the ruling Social Democrats (SPÖ), Greens chief Eva Glawischnig and representatives of non-government organisations […]

Schwarz takes over from Mikl-Leitner

Categories
Politics

Barbara Schwarz succeeds Johanna Mikl-Leitner as Lower Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) councillor.Schwarz – mayor of the town of Dürnstein – takes over her fellow party member’s agendas as of now, it was announced today (Tues).ÖVP Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said earlier this month Mikl-Leitner will succeed Maria Fekter as federal interior minister days after he […]

Karl pledges faith effort

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Politics

New People’s Party (ÖVP) Justice Minister Beatrix Karl has said she wants to win back people’s faith in the country’s juridical system.A majority of 55 per cent of Austrians told research group Karmasin in January that they put less trust in the juridical system now than one year ago.Karl was sworn in yesterday (Thurs). The […]

ÖVP focuses on core group as critics attack Kurz

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Politics

New People’s Party (ÖVP) General Secretary Hannes Rauch has said his party must stop trying to meet a majority’s demands.The Tyrolean told the Kurier newspaper today (Thurs): “We have to leave the idea behind us that we have to satisfy 60 or 70 per cent. The ÖVP is a party with many members. We have […]

Greens rated least corrupt in poll

Categories
Politics

Austrians are putting the most trust in the Greens when it comes to how badly political parties are infiltrated by corrupting networks.Public opinion company Karmasin found that 31 per cent of Austrians think that the Green Party was the least corrupt political force in the country. The agency said the Social Democrats (SPÖ) came second […]

Spindelegger takes over from Pröll

Categories
Politics

Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger is set to become the new chairman of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP).The board of the party – which forms a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) on federal level – unanimously chose Spindelegger in a meeting this morning (Thurs). The panel was pressed to act after Finance Minister Josef Pröll […]

Pröll quits due to health ‘warning sign’

Categories
Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) boss Josef Pröll has ended ongoing speculations about his health and role in the government by announcing his step down from all political roles.The former agriculture minister – who was sworn in as vice chancellor and finance minister in December 2008 – said today (Weds) he decided to retire after consultations with […]

Vienna public transport ticket price hike imminent, papers claim

Categories
General News

Using public transport in Vienna may become more expensive soon, according to reports.Several daily newspapers claim today (Weds) that public transport provider Wiener Linien will raise some rates shortly as the city’s new government aims to offer cheaper tickets to the needy.The Greens of Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou made clear when they decided to form […]