The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been given the all-clear to host a ball at Hofburg Palace next year. The right-wing faction headed by Heinz-Christian Strache has been accused of failing to disassociate from right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis for decades. Several FPÖ parliament members (MPs) and high-ranking representatives of the party as well as spearheads of […]
Refugee charity organisations and anti-fascism groups are infuriated by news that a right-wing movement may host a ball at the presidential office next year. Freedom Party (FPÖ) Vienna whip Johann Gudenus said today (Tues) that managers of Hofburg Palace granted his faction’s application to organise a ball at the venue in 2013. Hofburg Palace is […]
A vast majority of Austrians object to ideas of a drastic pension age increase. Only 16 per cent think that the regular retirement age should be 70, public opinion research group Karmasin said. The agency interviewed 500 Austrians for magazine profil. Karmasin found that 81 per cent of Austrians were against proposed increases of the […]
A renowned businessman has explained why he is ready to financially support a new political movement. Frank Stronach, the founder of automotive industry giant Magna International, made headlines a few days ago by claiming to be determined to provide a new political party of young people with “a lot of money”. Now the Austrian-Canadian entrepreneur […]
Political scientist Anton Pelinka has reacted critically to the government’s plan to reduce the parliament. Werner Faymann’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) of Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Spindelegger announced earlier this month that the number of federal parliament delegates would shrink by 18 to 165 after next year’s […]
The Viennese government has presented plans for a new Bike City housing project. The housing construction initiative for Liesing district resembles buildings in Leopoldstadt district and Vienna-Floridsdorf. Residents of the Bike City in Vienna-Leopoldstadt are allowed to own cars while people living on such an estate in Floridsdorf had to sign a declaration declaring they […]
The Viennese city coalition plans to crack down on early retirement. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl announced yesterday (Tues) that he wanted to increase the average pension age of the capital’s public servants from the current 56 to 60 years. Häupl did not disclose when the four-year increase should be achieved. His announcement came […]
A Green Party member’s decision to confront the government with an ultimatum did not remain without reactions. Peter Pilz said at the weekend it was time to increase the pressure on the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) for stricter anti-corruption regulations and an effective party funding regulative. The parliament member (MP) told […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour and Social Affairs Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer has said the fines for breaches of education regulations might rise. Hundstorfer said before the meeting of government ministers yesterday (Tues) that he could imagine to support an increase of the maximum penalty from 220 Euros to twice this amount. The labour minister once more […]
The education ministry has said it could imagine upping charges for truancy. People’s Party (ÖVP) Integration Secretary Sebastian Kurz announced yesterday (Mon) the families of pupils who were caught skipping lessons should face higher penalties. Kurz told radio Ö1 that the maximum charge of 220 Euros was too low in his opinion. He claimed that […]