Peoples Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll has warned of “dangerous developments” as European Union (EU) member states have backed out of the previously agreed upon support package for Greece.Speaking about the Czech Republics and Slovakias decision not to contribute to the 110-billion-Euro rescue bid agreed upon last May, he said today (Thurs): “Neighbouring countries […]
New law bans Under-18s from solariums
Categories
Austrian teenagers are banned from tanning shops as of today (Weds) amid skin cancer fears.The law preventing Under-18s from using tanning salons in the country was agreed upon by all five parties represented in the Austrian parliament last year.The government stressed managers of solariums, hotel bosses and other businessmen face fines of up to 2,180 […]
FPÖ boss wants minarets referendum
Categories
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has announced a referendum over minarets if he wins the upcoming Vienna election.The right-winger announced today (Tues) he will hold a referendum to let residents decide whether they want a law preventing the construction of minarets in the capital.He said: “I will immediately hold a referendum over the issue […]
A vast majority of the mayors of Austrias debt-ridden towns could imagine cutting back subsidies for cultural events.A poll among Austrias mayors has found 95 per cent would reduce financial support for local arts and culture events were they forced to slash their annual budget. Magazine profil further reports today (Mon) the OGM research found […]
Peoples Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Maria Fekter said she was “alarmed” by rising asylum application figures.The minister said today (Mon) around 800 foreigners have asked for asylum in Austria every month between January and July, adding that the number of monthly applications could reach 1,300 at the end of August.Fekter claimed this development was an […]
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has spoken out against the construction of additional minarets in Austria.The right-winger said on state-owned TV channel ORFs “Sommergespräche” (Summer Talks) series last night (Mon): “We say yes to houses of prayers, but no to minarets and muezzins.”Straches statement comes after Anas Schakfeh, president of the Austrian Islamic Denomination […]
Right-wing anger over mosques call
Categories
Freedom Party (FPÖ) officials have hit out at Anas Schakfeh, president of the Austrian Islamic Denomination (IGGiÖ), for calling for a mosque in all nine provinces.FPÖ General Secretary Harald Vilimsky today (Mon) suggested an “immigration stop” for people from “Islamic regions” in a first reaction to Schakfehs statements from the weekend.Schakfeh said he wanted “visible” […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Education Minister Claudia Schmied is in hot water for splashing out more than 350,000 Euros on ads in a Viennese tabloid in less than two years.A parliamentary request by Freedom Party (FPÖ) MP Walter Rosenkranz forced the education ministry to announce that it had spent 365,271.56 Euros on “information campaigns” in free […]
The Austrian agriculture ministry has come under fire for providing just 200,000 Euros of immediate aid for victims of flooding in Pakistan.Max Santner, head of the international aid department of the Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK), branded the ministrys decision to provide 200,000 Euros as “disgraceful”.He added: “I hope this amount is not everything to come […]
An Austrian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) has claimed he has been targeted by the Colombian Secret Service over his fight for the rights of farmers in the country.Social Democrat (SPÖ) Jörg Leichtfried said today (Thurs) he got hold of top secret documents revealing that Secret Service officials of the South American country planned […]