Federal President Heinz Fischer has been criticised for backing calls for higher taxes on assets. The former Social Democratic (SPÖ) member of the federal parliament (MP) said yesterday (Sun) he worried about the social peace and balance in the country. Fischer said he would like to put the opinion that Austria’s rich must not be […]
One of the country’s most influential politicians of the past 20 years has stepped down. Wolfgang Schüssel announced today (Mon) he decided to retire as member of the federal parliament (MP). The move comes after increasing pressure on the former chancellor in connection with alleged fraud and stock market value manipulation carried out by former […]
Barbara Prammer has said exposed occurrences within Telekom Austria (TA) are “almost unbearable.” The Social Democrat (SPÖ) is, as first president of the federal parliament, the highest political representative of Austria after President Heinz Fischer. Prammer appealed on prosecutors to present the results of their investigations as soon as possible. The Social Democrat also said […]
Vienna’s Greens are delving further into controversy with a new no-traffic concept. Viennese newspapers report today (Weds) that Green Party Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou wanted to ban car traffic from some of the city’s busiest roads next summer. The left-winger allegedly wants a different street at the free disposal for cyclists, pedestrians and inline skaters. […]
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze has said he was certain his country would join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) sooner than the European Union (EU). Vashadze – who is currently in Salzburg to attend an international meeting of businesspeople and politicians – told the Austrian Kurier newspaper today (Mon): “I’m hesitant about telling you […]
Services provided by the city of Vienna to its residents will become more expensive in less than half a year, it emerged yesterday (Weds). The capital’s government coalition of Mayor Michael Häupl’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Viennese Green Party said services like waste disposal and tap water supply will cost around six per cent […]
Health Minister Alois Stöger has presented an initiative aimed at tackling young Austrians’ unfavourable nutrition habits. The Social Democrat (SPÖ) announced yesterday (Weds) school canteen managers will be provided with free brochures and further guidelines on how to provide a healthy and balanced range of snacks and drinks to kids. Around one in 10 Austrian […]
The majority of Austrians are in favour of an expansion of abortion services. Conservative opinion leaders turned their guns on Social Democratic (SPÖ) Health Minister Alois Stöger earlier this month after he suggested state-funded clinics across the country should provide induced abortions. The left-wing politician claimed women were “not taken seriously” at the moment. Public […]
Vienna Medical University (MedUni) head Wolfgang Schütz has warned of a negative impact on services provided to residents of the Vienna region and patients at Austria’s largest clinic if the government refuses to increase its subsidies. The Republic of Austria has supported Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) with 270 million Euros since 2010. Schütz said today […]
Conservative decision-makers are expected to raise the pressure on Alexander Wrabetz after his re-election as head of national broadcaster ORF. Twenty-nine delegates of ORF’s 35-member foundation council confirmed Wrabetz in office after a two-hour hearing yesterday afternoon (Tues). The other members of the council abstained from voting. Wrabetz started his first term in 2006 thanks […]