Newspapers from Yemen agree that the sultanate of Oman paid 16 million dollars of ransom for the Austrian kidnap victim Dominik N. (26). Four million dollars were paid to tribal leaders who worked as intermediaries. The news agency AFP confirmed the figures: apparently, 50 million dollars were paid for all three hostages. Arabian media reported […]
Tag: Spindelegger
Austrian Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has promised that the European Union (EU) will not let Greece down. The head of the People’s Party (ÖVP) said there was no alternative to helping Greece in its current situation. The member state of the EU and the Eurozone is in a serious political crisis after the leaders of […]
ÖVP head pounces on PPÖ
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People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has branded the Pirate Party (PPÖ) as a “group of clowns”. The foreign minister said in a speech at Hofburg Palace in Vienna yesterday (Mon) that the increasingly popular party consisted of “political clowns”. Some analysts think that the established parties still fail to realise the threat the […]
The People’s Party (ÖVP) has suggested to lower the tax pressure on companies which share their profits with employees. ÖVP chairman Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Tues) firms which decided to pay bonuses to staff in economically successful times should benefit by such a tax reform. The foreign minister added that his party would present detail […]
Pühringer leads trust index
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Josef Pühringer, the governor of the province of Upper Austria, is the most trusted People’s Party (ÖVP) politician. A new poll by OGM – published in the new edition of magazine profil – lists Pühringer ahead of Economy Chamber (WKO) President Christoph Leitl and Science Minister Karlheinz Töchterle. Leitl has often been rumoured to become […]
ÖVP programme reform planned
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A new concept by People’s Party (ÖVP) State Secretary Sebastian Kurz will become part of the party’s programme, it has been announced. Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, who took over from ex-Finance Minister Josef Pröll as ÖVP chairman in 2011, said yesterday (Weds) that the integration secretary’s democracy paper would be considered “step by step”. Kurz […]
Fekter faces the axe, papers claim
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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 […]
Opposition pounces on pressurised ÖVP
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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, […]
Rudolf Hundstorfer has said that “clarity, transparency and comprehensibility” were needed to improve the reputation of Austrian politics. The Social Democratic (SPÖ) labour minister was asked to organise the activities of a special group of government members. The panel, which consists of SPÖ whip Josef Cap and People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner among […]
FPÖ protests against pension age project
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The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has attacked the People’s Party (ÖVP) over its plan to increase the pension age in the coming years. ÖVP Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger announced yesterday (Thurs) his party aimed at raising the actual pension age by four years by 2020. He said a bonus system should ensure that people worked longer. […]