Portuguese Socialist Party head and Prime Minister Jose Socrates has claimed his country is a model pupil in restoring its finances.Many analysts and economists have warned that Portugal may be the next European Union (EU) member to tap the recently established European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). Greece and Ireland have already received billions in credits […]
The Hungarian ambassador in Vienna has claimed that the European press is not interested in a successful Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).The Hungarian government of right-wing Fidesz chairman and Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been attacked by newspapers all over the continent over a controversial new media enactment. The law, […]
Trust poll shocks quarrelling government
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The Austrian government has suffered heavily over the level of trust it enjoys, a new poll shows.Research firm Karmasin found that 67 per cent of Austrians have less trust now in the joint administration of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative Peoples Party (ÖVP) than they had one year ago.The agency, which spoke to around […]
Support for Turkish EU bid wanes
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The number of Austrians opposing Turkey’s accession to the European Union (EU) is on the rise.Researchers Karmasin questioned around 500 Austrians for magazine profil to find that 61 per cent are against such a move. Fifty-nine per cent said the same in May 2009.Eighteen per cent of Austrians (2009: 13 per cent) spoke out in […]
Austrian Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann has met with Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor just three days after her predecessor was arrested in Austria.A spokesman for Kosor claimed that today’s (Mon) meeting was agreed upon “a long time ago”, and dismissed it had anything to do with the arrest of ex-HDZ […]
Austria has failed to make the top 10 in a think tanks latest global democracy ranking.The Vienna-based Democracy Ranking Association announced today (Mon) Norway, which came second in 2009, toppled last years leader Sweden to grab first place in its 2010 Democracy Ranking.Finland takes third place ahead of Switzerland and Denmark. New Zealand makes sixth […]
Spindelegger meets German leaders
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Peoples Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger met with Germanys political elite today (Fri).Spindelegger was welcomed by German President Christian Wulff at Bellevue Palace in Berlin in the morning before meeting with Bundestag MPs and the countrys Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) later in the day.The ÖVP officials office explained […]
Austrian embassy in Paris ‘a pigsty’
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Peoples Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich has labelled the Austrian embassy in Paris a “pigsty”, according to reports.The federal minister was due to catch a connection flight in the French capital yesterday (Tues) to attend the United Nations (UN) 2010 Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico.The departure of the Air France jet the minister […]
Strache’s Israel trip causes a stir
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Officials in Austria are at odds over Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Straches decision to travel to Israel.The right-winger visited Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a territory Palestinians are also claiming. Speaking about the ongoing conflict about the area and the throwbacks the peace talks have suffered, Strache said in the West Bank area […]
A Peoples Party (ÖVP) mayor faces a trial over an alleged sex attack, it has emerged.Wilfried Berchtold, ÖVP Mayor of the city of Feldkirch, went on sick leave from his political position after a womans accusations were uncovered by local media earlier this year. Now the state prosecution of Feldkirch confirmed that Berchtold will be […]