Angry business leaders say Austria is too expensive

Categories
Business

Austria as an economic location is seriously under threat according to domestic business leaders. The warning comes after several banks indicated that they were considering moving their headquarters abroad because of the taxes they were having to pay in Austria, and only last week steel industry voestalpine boss Wolfgang Eder also said that the tax […]

Austria celebrates May Day as a Bank Holiday

Categories
Politics

A lot of events will take place on today’s May Day: The traditionally biggest event is the manifestation of the SPÖ at town hall square in Vienna. The famous Austrian singer DJ Ötzi will motivate people to party in Vienna Prater. This year’s May Parade of the Social Democrats will be in accordance with the […]

Katy Perry is the latest addition to Madame Tussauds in Vienna

Categories
Culture

Madame Tussaud’s in Vienna is one addition richer – starting today. Katy Perry’s wax twin was revealed by two fans who had won a styling contest on Thursday evening. A wax statue of the American pop singer Katy Perry is now on display at Madame Tussaud’s at the Vienna Prater. 20 artists in total were […]

Illicit funding of parties might soon mean prison

Categories
Politics

The opposition wants to apply the criminal law for politicians engaging in the illegal subsidisation of their parties. The Greens, the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) welcomed such a suggestion of Günther Kräuter, the general secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ). Kräuter said at the weekend that […]

Anger about envisaged parliament reduction

Categories
Politics

The government is facing friendly fire after revealing plans to slash the parliament’s number of seats. The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and its coalition partner, the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said earlier this month the parliament should feature just 165 delegates instead of the current 183. The reform could come into effect after the next […]

Prammer backs Bundesrat reform

Categories
Politics

The president of the parliament has suggested setting up a commission to discuss the latest ideas about how Austria’s political leadership could prove the willingness to economise. Barbara Prammer of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) said in a radio interview this morning (Thurs) she welcomed plans to reform the federal council (Bundesrat). “The Bundesrat is […]

Vienna mayor against changing president’s role

Categories
Politics

Michael Häupl, the mayor of Vienna, has spoken out against a political reform affecting the presidential office. The head of Vienna’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) said yesterday (Tues) the functions and responsibilities of the president of the Republic of Austria could only be changed by holding a referendum since the position’s duties and responsibilities were part […]

Protests follow Hu to Salzburg

Categories
Politics

Several street protests overshadowed the final day of Hu Jintao’s visit to Austria. Hundreds of people gathered along the roads of the province of Salzburg as the convoy of the Chinese leader and his 150-member delegation passed yesterday morning (Tues) to visit a farm. Hu and the other political and business officials also went on […]

Free Tibet marches tarnish Hu visit

Categories
Politics

Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against China’s stance on human rights and democracy as Heinz Fischer welcomed Hu Jintao at Hofburg Palace in Vienna this morning (Mon). The Austrian president discussed economic issues with his Chinese counterpart as they met for the first time since Fischer went on a state visit […]

Kuneva deplores mutual distrust

Categories
Politics

Meglena Kuneva has claimed Bulgarians lack mutual trust. The former European Commissioner for Consumer Protection – who runs for Bulgarian president next month – told Austrian newspaper Die Presse today (Mon) it was “impossible” to discuss the domestic economy’s development because of the various “lobbies” in the federal parliament. Kuneva also criticised the state of […]