Petzner admits speeding

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Politics

A right-wing politician has vowed to “draw political conclusions” from being caught speeding.Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) MP Stefan Petzner confirmed newspaper reports that he lost his licence for going at too high speed.Referring to the incident last December, the BZÖ Carinthia chief claimed he drove because of a “medical emergency”. Petzner said […]

Sex ad leaves right-wingers red-faced

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Politics

A right-wing party’s youth organisation has vowed to review the organisation of its homepage after a banner advertised erotic contacts and a controversial computer game.The Vorarlberg branch of the Freedom Party’s (FPÖ) youth organisation RFJ confirmed today (Weds) that it cancelled the contract with an internet advertising company after a large banner which appeared on […]

USA set to shut neo-Nazi website

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Politics

An infamous neo-Nazi homepage may go offline soon, it has emerged.Viennese newspapers report today (Weds) that Austrian prosecutors came to an agreement with authorities in the United States over shutting down the “Alpe-Donau” website.Austrian Green Party officials have pointed out for months that Austrian neo-Nazis are frequently leaving fascist and racist statements on the internet […]

Karas set to take over from Strasser

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Politics

Othmar Karas may succeed Ernst Strasser as leader of the Austrian People’s Party’s (ÖVP) delegation in the European Parliament (EP).Strasser decided to resign as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) yesterday (Sun) after investigative journalists of the Sunday Times revealed he was willing to lobby on behalf of financial sector companies in the EP. The […]

Japanese food safe, says minister

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Politics

Austrian Interior Minister Maria Fekter has stressed all foodstuff imported from Japan is safe.The People’s Party (ÖVP) deputy chief said today (Mon) Austrians could be assured that none of the tuna, noodles and various other food shipped to Austria from the Asian country were found to be contaminated by radiation. Fekter told the Salzburger Nachrichten […]

Number of clinics in Vienna to dwindle

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Politics

Political decision-makers in Vienna have revealed plans to drastically reduce the number of hospitals in the city.The Social Democrats (SPÖ) – who form a government coalition with the Greens in the federal capital – said yesterday (Thurs) that there should be just seven instead of the current 12 city-owned clinics by 2030.SPÖ Vienna Health Councillor […]

Government introduces quota for females

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Politics

The federal coalition has been attacked from all sides of the political spectrum after agreeing on a quota for females in businesses close to the state.Social Democratic (SPÖ) Women’s Minister Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek and People’s Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner announced yesterday (Tues) that the decision will affect 55 companies in which the Republic of […]

EU ambassador pledges instant aid if Japan asks for it

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Politics

The European Union (EU) would react “immediately” to a request for help by Japan, the EU’s ambassador in the country stressed.Hans Dietmar Schweisgut told the Kurier newspaper today (Tues): “Several EU member states already sent support teams to Japan. The EU crisis aid mechanism can only be activated after an official request by an affected […]

Hofer attacks ‘nuclear power lobbyist’ Schüssel

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Politics

Freedom Party (FPÖ) chiefs have turned their guns on People’s Party (ÖVP) officials in the wake of detonations at a nuclear power plant in Japan.FPÖ deputy chairman Norbert Hofer said today (Tues) former ÖVP Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel must make a decision over whether he wanted to be a “lobbyist for the nuclear power industry or […]

More charity organisations to benefit from tax law

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Politics

The Austrian government has decided to expand a programme making donations to charity organisations tax-deductible.The federal coalition – formed by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) – announced today (Mon) the model will also consider money given to organisations which run animal shelters, voluntary fire brigades and natural protection groups.The decree, which […]