Brain transplant appeal over AKH budget freeze

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Business

A legendary theatre actor has suggested politicians should “have their brains transplanted” at Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) after medical staff presented plans to reduce night and weekend services. The AKH’s works council and the Austrian Doctors’ Chamber said on Monday just 154 doctors would be at work at the hospital during the night and at […]

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 […]

Rating agencies ‘expect clear signal’

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Politics

Bernhard Felderer has explained why the Austrian government is well advised to fight for a two-third majority approval of its debt limit project. Social Democrats (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP) are currently trying to convince the Greens and the rightist Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) that its stricter budget path until 2020 was […]

Pilz opposes pay freeze

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Politics

A veteran Green Party member has spoken out against the government’s decision not to increase politicians’ wages next year. The coalition of Chancellor Werner Faymann’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger’s People’s Party (ÖVP) said on Sunday members of the parliament (MPs) would not get more in 2012. Delegates’ salaries were most […]

Fewer AKH docs on night duty from next year

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Business

The number of doctors on night duty at Austria’s largest clinics is set to shrink, it has emerged. The works council of Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) announced yesterday (Mon) that 145 doctors would be at work at night and at weekends from February 2012, down from 172 at the moment. The doctors’ representation explained it […]

Faymann bullish about debt limit

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Politics

The government’s debt brake bill might not become a constitutional law. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann said today (Fri) he was ready to prepare a regular law instead of trying to add the debt limit to the constitution if the opposition kept refusing support. The coalition of SPÖ and the People’s Party (ÖVP) needs […]

New revelations aggravate fake pro-Faymann mails row

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Politics

Another leading newspaper has confirmed that it received fake letters to the editor filed from a server run by the Social Democrats (SPÖ). The Kurier, a Vienna-based broadsheet, reports today (Thurs) that at least 393 e-mails signed by nonexistent people were sent to its office in the past two years. The daily disclosed that SPÖ […]

Faymann suffers Facebook fiasco

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Politics

The office of Social Democratic (SPÖ) chief Werner Faymann is accused of using unfair methods trying to boost the chancellor’s presence on the internet after a mediocre start. The SPÖ boss launched his profile on social networking site Facebook on last month’s Austrian National Day when political observers expected him to speak out on the […]

New austerity threatens rail investments

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Business

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures may be forced to pull the plug on an extensive railway infrastructure project. Bures said in September that 100 train stations all over Austria would be renovated by 2014. The infrastructure minister also presented plans to improve the country’s railroad network in the coming years. The People’s Party […]

Parking ticket price hike upsets opposition

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Politics

The Viennese government has been accused of “ripping off” residents by increasing parking fees. Viennese Green Party boss Maria Vassilakou said yesterday (Weds) leaving a car in the city for one hour would cost two Euros from March 2012 instead of 1.20 Euros. Thirty minutes of parking will cost one Euro instead of 60 Eurocent. […]