Raiffeisen job for ex-vice chancellor

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Business

Former People’s Party (ÖVP) boss Josef Pröll is to head an internationally operating agricultural company.The Lower Austrian-Viennese branch of Raiffeisen – Austria’s biggest private employer – announced yesterday (Weds) that the ex-finance minister will take over at its affiliate Leipnik-Lundenburger Invest Beteiligungs AG (LLI) next month. Pröll agreed with supervisory board officials on a five-year […]

Slack study result for Spindelegger after Kurz controversy

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Politics

A controversial right-winger has higher approval ratings than new People’s Party (ÖVP) boss Michael Spindelegger.Research firm Karmasin found in a poll for magazine profil that 13 per cent of Austrians want Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ), head of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), to become the country’s next chancellor. Only 12 per cent say the same about […]

Eight in 10 rule out ÖVP win

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Politics

A vast majority think that the People’s Party (ÖVP) has no chance to come first in the next elections.Research group Karmasin questioned 500 Austrians for political magazine profil. The agency said today (Mon) that 48 per cent of interviewed citizens think the conservative party “will rather not” come out on top in the next federal […]

Raiffeisen confirms Pröll talks

Categories
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 – […]

Schwarz takes over from Mikl-Leitner

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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 […]

Spindelegger takes over from Pröll

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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’

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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 […]

Strasser accounts to be opened

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Politics

Anti-corruption investigators have asked to check the bank accounts of a former member of the European Parliament (MEP), according to a report.Business magazine Format reported yesterday (Mon) that state prosecutors asked the Criminal Court in Vienna for permission to search the accounts of Ernst Strasser. The former interior minister resigned as MEP recently amid accusations […]

Rivals reach for power as Pröll bound to rehab

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Politics

Austria’s second-strongest political party may get a new leader, according to press.Several newspapers are speculating that the board of the People’s Party (ÖVP) has started to negotiate who could follow Josef Pröll as chairman, finance minister and vice chancellor.The former environment minister was airlifted to a clinic in Innsbruck after experiencing breathing difficulties during a […]

Austrian aid for Libyan refugees

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Politics

The Austrian government will support Libyan refugees, it has been announced.Maria Fekter, interior minister in the coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said today (Fri) Austria will send 15,000 so-called hygiene packages to refugee camps set up in Tunisia and Egypt where people fleeing from the civil war in the […]