People’s Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said he has been “forced” into closing some Austrian embassies due to cutbacks ordered by his ministry for the coming years.The minister said today (Mon): “I have not got any other option than closing some embassies.”Spindelegger refused to reveal how many Austrian representations abroad will be shut and […]
Left-wingers are expected to take to the streets in Vienna today (Fri) to demonstrate against a summit of far-right parties from all over Europe which is taking place in the Austrian capital.Andreas Mölzer, who represents the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) in the European Parliament (EP), said representatives of the Sweden Democrats, Italys Lega Nord, the […]
The Peoples Party (ÖVP) has suggested the Austrian army should be able to pick only the best young Austrians to serve the mandatory six-month service.ÖVP Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger and the partys Interior Minister Maria Fekter said today (Fri) they wanted to give the army the right to call up only the 10,000 most-skilled of […]
The Viennese department of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) will get seven million Euros in public subsidies this year following its strong gains in the recent city parliament election.Political scientist Hubert Sickinger said today (Tues) the right-wing partys Vienna branch will have received seven million Euros by the end of 2011. Sickinger stressed this indicates a […]
Former German Social Democratic (SPD) Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück has criticised the Austrian Social Democrats (SPÖ) for holding back information on the 2011 budget after two provincial elections took place.The Austrian SPÖ government and the conservative Peoples Party (ÖVP) controversially announced it would wait until December to reveal possible higher or new taxes and cuts. […]
Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Heinz-Christian Strache has accused the Social Democrats (SPÖ) of “ignoring peoples desires” after talks about a possible cooperation in the city parliament of Vienna were ended after barely an hour.Strache said today (Fri)that the SPÖs Viennese branch would continue its “politics of isolation” towards the FPÖ despite having suffered massive losses […]
Peoples Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Maria Fekter has stressed Austria will continue to deport people who have been living in the country for many years.The right-winger said today (Thurs) she had no plans to change current regulations which allow immigration police to forcefully deport people whose residence permits are rejected.Fekter called for more “acceptance” of […]
Several decision-makers of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Peoples Party (ÖVP) are facing the chop after the federal coalition partners were badly beaten in last Sundays Vienna election.The SPÖ lost its absolute majority in the 100-member city parliament, dropping from 49.1 per cent to 44.6 per cent. The party is now forced to […]
Only one in 10 Vienna residents would have supported Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache in a direct mayoral election, research has shown.Pollsters ISA/SORA found 10 per cent would have backed the right-winger in such a ballot, while 38 per cent said they would have supported incumbent Vienna Social Democrats (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl. Peoples […]
The Social Democrats (SPÖ) lost their absolute majority in the Vienna city parliament for the second time since World War Two while the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) celebrates massive gains.The SPÖ garnered 44.2 per cent yesterday (Sun), down from the 49.1 per cent it won five years ago.The Peoples Party (ÖVP) failed to remain the […]