The Austrian government is cracking down on another alleged safe haven for private equity. Only last week, Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter met with Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to finalise a tax treaty between the neighbouring countries. The agreement means that Austrians’ money in Switzerland would be charged with tax rates […]
Tag: party
The compulsory use of winter tyres rule ends this weekend on Sunday when spring officially arrives for the road transport authorities. The fact however that people will no longer be obliged to wear winter tyres does not seem to have been observed by mother nature – with snowfalls predicted on Monday in many parts of […]
The People’s Party (ÖVP) has denied that it tries to enforce an early end to the parliamentary anti-corruption commission. The panel headed by Greens parliamentary member (MP) Gabriela Moser is investigating the various alleged corrupt connections between politicians and businesspeople since January. It suffered a setback when the ÖVP and its government coalition partner, the […]
Fekter faces the axe, papers claim
Categories
Rumours that People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter will soon have to go are increasing following the most recent budget dispute. The finance minister was seen as a contender for ÖVP leadership following the resignation of Josef Pröll as chairman, vice chancellor, and finance minister last year. Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner was given good […]
A heated debate has erupted following a radical traffic reform idea by the Viennese Greens. The party said on Wednesday cyclists should be allowed to cross junctions or turn right at red light in some cases. Special traffic lights could be established to introduce the model used in other European cities, the Greens said. Christoph […]
Austrian investors who cooperated with Telekom Austria (TA) are facing fraud investigations. Magazine profil reported in its online edition yesterday (Thurs) that anti-corruption investigators started examining the actions of billionaire Martin Schlaff and former People’s Party (ÖVP) chief Josef Taus, one of Austria’s busiest investors. TA benefited from Schlaff’s engagements in Bulgaria where the Austrian […]
Green light for Vienna’s cyclists
Categories
The Viennese Greens plan significant cycling rule reforms. Several Viennese newspapers report today (Thurs) that the party of Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou wants to lift the obligatory cycling path usage law. The restriction means that all cyclists have to use cycling strips wherever available. Abandoning the ruling could create a conflict between the city coalition […]
High-ranking representatives of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) have defended controversial slogans of the party’s Tyrolean department. The rightist party’s Innsbruck branch warned from “Moroccan thieves” in rhyme on a recently presented poster. The slogan was part of the FPÖ’s campaign for the upcoming Innsbruck city hall ballot. Residents of the provincial capital of Tyrol will […]
Morocco posters all removed says FPÖ
Categories
The Freedom party official responsible for an election poster campaign that urged love for all things good and Austrian rather than thieving Moroccans has apologised and had all the posters removed. The slogan “Heimatliebe statt Marokkaner-Diebe” on the Freedom Party placards for local elections in Innsbruck translates as “Love of your home country instead of […]
Opposition pounces on pressurised ÖVP
Categories
The opposition plans to organise a series of extraordinary parliamentary meetings to raise the pressure on the People’s Party (ÖVP). Members of parliament (MPs) representing the ÖVP in the anti-corruption commission dramatically reduced the number of witnesses to be questioned concerning the Federal Workers’ and Employees’ Association (ÖAAB) controversy. A magazine published by the organisation, […]