Government’s subsidisation reform suffers setback

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Politics

The government has failed to reach an agreement with the coalition concerning a reform of Austria’s party subsidisation system. Representatives of the government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) held talks with Green Party members, Freedom Party (FPÖ) officials and members of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) […]

Finance minister determined about sanctions

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Politics

Federal and provincial financial issues decision-makers have postponed their negotiations about the budget of the coming years. People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter said talks with the provincial governments’ finance councillors would continue next week. Fekter angered the politically muscular provincial parliaments by revealing plans to sanction provinces which breached the stricter new budget […]

Fekter under fire for fiscal warning

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Politics

The Social Democrats (SPÖ) and regional power brokers have attacked Maria Fekter. The People’s Party (ÖVP) finance minister announced yesterday (Mon) she wanted to sanction provincial governments which breached the harsh new budget rules. Fekter said the agreement between the federal government and the provinces should not expire in 2017. The SPÖ-ÖVP coalition wants to […]

Provinces gain the upper hand in budget talks

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Politics

Austria’s provinces will be allowed to breach upcoming debt limit regulations in extraordinary circumstances, it emerged yesterday evening (Tues). David Brenner, the financial councillor of Salzburg and head of the council of councillors for financial affairs, announced that the country’s nine provinces were given the right to spend more than scheduled in the next nine […]

Fekter set to clash with provinces

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter is braced for controversial arguments with the financial councillors of Austria’s nine provinces after David Brenner expressed concerns about the government’s debt limit. Brenner – who heads the council of provincial financial councillors – said today (Tues) the federal coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and ÖVP must abstain […]

Debt brake meets mounting mistrust

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Politics

The political leaders of Austria’s provinces are at odds about the government’s debt limit decision. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann and People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger announced on Tuesday that the coalition decided to implement a so-called debt brake. The government is dependent on the support of at least one of the […]

Farmer dies under tractor

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General News

An elderly farmer died after his tractor fell on top of him as he worked in a forest in Upper Austria.The 80-year-old was already dead when he was discovered by a hiker in woodland outside Pfarrkirchen in the province’s Rohrbach district this morning (Fri). Police said he might have died instantly after the vehicle overturned […]

Girl may make full recovery after dog attack

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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 […]

Vienna man hospitalised after attempt to end dogfight

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General News

A 46-year-old man suffered serious injuries when he tried to separate fighting dogs in Vienna yesterday afternoon (Sun).The resident of the city was going for a walk with two friends and their dogs, an American Stafford Terrier and a Bullmastiff, at the Prater park. The canines’ playing around soon turned into an aggressive fight. Both […]

Minister makes youth protection law reform pledge

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner has said he is ready to reattempt reforming Austria’s youth protection regulations.Non-government organisations (NGOs) and opposition politicians have criticised decision-makers for years over the issue since laws strongly vary in all of the country’s nine provinces. The legal framework allows 16-year-olds to go out up to three hours […]