Haider ally compares Austrian papers with Nazis

Categories
Politics

Former allies of late right-wing spearhead Jörg Haider have launched an unprecedented attack on Austrian media over their coverage of alleged secret bank accounts.News weekly profil claimed on the weekend that ex-Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Haider stashed around 45 million Euros in more than 40 different accounts in the principality bordering Austria.The magazine wrote that […]

Kaltenegger wipes away land tax calls

Categories
Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) general secretary Fritz Kaltenegger has ruled out higher real estate taxes as the budget debate intensifies.Kaltenegger said today (Fri) his party opposed an increase of land tax from next year. His pledge comes days after several economists and the ÖVP’s coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPÖ), called for an open discussion over […]

FPÖ MP’s son ‘faces Nazi mindset charges’

Categories
Politics

The son of Freedom Party (FPÖ) MP Barbara Rosenkranz is accused of having shouted “Heil Hitler!” at a group of teenage students.Newspapers report today (Thurs) that a teacher reported 20-year-old Volker Rosenkranz to police for allegedly making the infamous Nazi greeting towards his students outside Vienna City Hall on 24 April. The group were leaving […]

Spindelegger says Sudan must cooperate to avoid civil war

Categories
Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger has appealed to his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmed Karti to increase measures avoiding a civil war breaking out in Darfur.Spindelegger said Austria – currently a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – had “great interest” in the wellbeing of the thousands of refugees living in the […]

German President to visit Austria this week

Categories
Politics

New German President Christian Wulff will come to Vienna this Wednesday, the office of Austrian President Heinz Fischer has announced. A spokeswoman for Fischer said today (Mon) that the former Christian Democratic (CDU) Minister President of Lower Saxony will stay in Vienna for a few hours. She announced Fischer and Wulff will meet for talks […]

SPÖ and ÖVP go head to head in Styria

Categories
Politics

A hot political summer is ahead as research shows the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) are neck-and-neck in Styria.People in the central province head to the polls on 26 September and SPÖ Governor Franz Voves made clear he will step down as leader of the Styrian Social Democrats if ÖVP Deputy Governor […]

Labour minister dismisses pension age rise call

Categories
Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer has strongly challenged pension age appeals by European Union (EU) Commissioner László Andor.Hungarian economist Andor – the EU’s Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion – said yesterday (Weds) EU member states must increase the age their citizens retired to avoid a breakdown of the social system.Think tanks […]

Pröll under pressure over pricey state debt info campaign

Categories
Politics

Opposition leaders have turned their guns on People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Josef Pröll over splashing out more than 800,000 Euros on a debt information campaign.The vice chancellor was forced to reveal his ministry spent 816,802 Euros on the controversial posters following Greens MP Karl Öllinger motion in parliament yesterday (Weds).The campaign – headlined “Weniger […]

Faymann calls for end of Gaza embargo

Categories
Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann appealed to Israeli leaders to lift the Gaza Strip embargo as he met with the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday (Weds).Faymann explained: “We (the Austrian government) want Israel to end the embargo of the Gaza Strip.”The chancellor stressed at the same time that he accepted that goods transported […]

Faymann first state chief to visit Israel after ‘ship attack’

Categories
Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann’s visit to Israel will be the first of the head of state since the violent incident on an international aid ship last month.Nine activists were killed and dozens injured when Israeli soldiers captured the Mavi Marmara in international waters. The incident sparked worldwide outcry and sharp criticism of Israel’s […]