A leading Social Democrat (SPÖ) has rejected the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) latest suggestions to economise. ÖVP boss Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Thurs) that the state could save “more than 10 billion Euros” altogether by 2016 by reducing certain investments. Spindelegger made clear that the agricultural sector would not be spared from austerity measures. However, the […]
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. […]
ÖVP plans drastic spending cuts
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People’s Party (ÖVP) chief Michael Spindelegger has pointed out that his party wants to restore the country’s public budget without tax increases. The foreign minister, who took over when Josef Pröll resigned as ÖVP chief in April 2011, said yesterday (Thurs) his faction found that the state debt could be lowered significantly by austerity measures. […]
Prammer backs tax increases
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Parliament speaker Barbara Prammer has branded suggestions to restore the state budget without any tax increases as “illusory”. The Social Democrat (SPÖ) – who reportedly considers running for president in 2016 – told the Kurier that “the weak have to be protected”. Prammer stressed she did not want to give her point of view on […]
Rudas confirms tax hike intention
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Social Democratic (SPÖ) General Secretary Laura Rudas has defended her party’s intention to increase taxes. The SPÖ wants to raise some taxation rates to restore the budget while its coalition partner, the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), expressed the intention to concentrate on lowering investments. Rudas said today (Weds) “all experts” were of the opinion that […]
Darabos defends fighter jets
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Defence Minister Norbert Darabos has hit back after a fellow Social Democrat (SPÖ) suggested to sell Austria’s Eurofighter jet fleet. SPÖ General Secretary Günther Kräuter said on Sunday Austria could get rid of its 15 fighter aircraft due to non-existent war concerns. Kräuter argued the alpine country was under higher financial and economic risk these […]
Austrians brace for harsh health reform
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The People’s Party (ÖVP) wants to drastically reduce Austria’s health sector spending. ÖVP whip Karlheinz Kopf said yesterday (Thurs) he was currently trying to convince the Social Democrats’ (SPÖ) debt brake negotiators that there was a savings potential of 1.8 billion Euros until 2017. SPÖ Health Minister Alois Stöger remained tight-lipped regarding details of the […]
Strache security punches party-goer
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Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Heinz-Christian Strache is in hot water after a bodyguard put a man into hospital last weekend. One of Strache’s three personal security guards attacked another guest of a club in Vienna-Favoriten on Saturday night. The man – understood to be an internationally successful banker – threw a ham roll and ice […]
Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has said he understands the “anger” of Styrian public servants. Civil servants working for the province of Styria and its capital Graz were informed their salaries would not rise next year despite agreement on federal political level that wages should be increased by 2.95 per cent. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Minister for […]
The head of the Federal Audit Office (RH) has appealed to political leaders to avoid “gambling away the future of our children”. Josef Moser provided the government coalition and the parliament’s opposition factions with a list of 599 suggestions where the country could become more efficient as lawmakers keep arguing over how to slash the […]