The Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) called on the Austrian government today (Weds) to give refuge to Iranian dissidents.Noting that Germany had announced on Monday that it would accept Iranian citizens, VIDC Director Walter Posch said: “I warmly welcome that step by the German government, and I am waiting for the Austrian […]
Military patrols of Austrias eastern frontiers are practically useless in terms of increasing public security, the Federal Audit Office (RH) said yesterday (Mon).A new RH report released yesterday has concluded that the patrols have not helped to resolve even one per cent of crimes in patrolled areas. The patrols have led to charges in 70 […]
Rosenkranz ‘condemns Nazi crimes’
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Barbara Rosenkranz, head of the Freedom Partys (FPÖ) Lower Austrian branch, said today (Mon) she wanted to disassociate herself from Nazi ideology in a reaction to criticism of her running for president.Rosenkranz came under fire for failing to make clear statements regarding World War II.Asked whether she doubted the existence of gas chambers at Nazi […]
Vienna Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn said today (Fri) he could rule out voting for the Freedom Partys (FPÖ) presidential election candidate Barbara Rosenkranz.Schönborn said: “Someone who questions the National Socialism prohibition law and fails to make clear statements regarding the Holocaust is not an option for me personally.”Rosenkranz, who represents the ultra-conservative wing of right-wing […]
New EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger called the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project “especially worthy of financial support” today (Thurs).He claimed it would significantly reduce Europes energy dependence on one supplier during presentation of the European Commissions (EC) financial assistance for 31 natural gas and 12 electricity projects.Oettinger noted that Nabucco, in which Austrian oil […]
The minimum price for a pack of cigarettes in Austria is a violation of EU guidelines, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled today (Thurs).The ECJ said minimum prices were an inappropriate way to try and safeguard public health and suggested higher taxes on tobacco products would be more effective.The Austrian government had imposed a […]
SPÖ to finance Fischer campaign
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The Social Democrats (SPÖ) will financially support the election campaign of incumbent president Heinz Fischer, it has emerged.SPÖ federal manager Günther Kräuter said today (Thurs) an “election fund” would be set up in which members will pay in around four Euros. This would be a sum of around one million Euros since the party has […]
BZÖ calls for tougher immigration laws
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The debate on immigration statistics and soaring unemployment figures is set to intensify as the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) today (Weds) called for a “foreigner check”.BZÖ boss Josef Bucher said Austria should adopt immigration systems as in operation in countries like Canada or Australia.Bucher claimed only people who “fulfil certain criteria” should […]
Both the Peoples Party (ÖVP) and the Greens announced yesterday (Thurs) they would not nominate their own candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.Lower Austrian ÖVP Governor Erwin Pröll recently made clear he would not run for the post. The announcement was preceded by weeks of speculation since the governor is regarded as the only possible […]
Innsbruck mayor to retire from politics
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Innsbruck Mayor Hilde Zach announced yesterday (Thurs) evening that she would retire from politics.Zach, 67, who was elected on the Liste für Innsbruck (List for Innsbruck) ticket, had cancer years ago and is reportedly in poor health. It is expected that Deputy Mayor Christine Oppitz-Plörer, also elected on the List for Innsbruck ticket, will succeed […]