BZÖ farewell possible, poll shows

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Politics

The chances of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) to avoid dropping out of parliament are waning, according to a new poll. Viennese research group Karmasin found that just two per cent of voters would currently support the party – which was founded by late Carinthian Governor and Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Jörg […]

ÖVP head pounces on PPÖ

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has branded the Pirate Party (PPÖ) as a “group of clowns”. The foreign minister said in a speech at Hofburg Palace in Vienna yesterday (Mon) that the increasingly popular party consisted of “political clowns”. Some analysts think that the established parties still fail to realise the threat the […]

Kurz tackles immigration at school level

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Politics

Integration Secretary Sebastian Kurz, 26, was at the ministry of interior affairs this week discussing with educationalists whether schools were failing in their mission of integration. Kurz was preparing for today’s launch of Vienna’s second annual Integration week, which he described as ‘an integration offensive necessary in order to build consciousnesses.’ The youngest minister in […]

Body of Libyan oil minister flown out of Austria

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Politics

The body of the former Libyan minister Shukri Ghanem, who was found dead in the Danube last week, has been transported to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday. The coffin with Ghanem’s name on it arrived in Tripoli yesterday, according to wire agencies. The Austrian officials were initially not ready to confirm this information. Meanwhile, […]

Vassilakou ensnares Pirates

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Politics

Vienna Greens Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou has appealed on the Austrian Pirate Party (PPÖ) to consider a partnership. Speaking to the Kurier, Vassilakou said her party “will approach those who fight for data protection and a democratic net”. She warned that the Austrian Greens would not cooperate with right-wing extremists. Vassilakou referred to developments in […]

SPÖ’s big guns trained on Strache

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Politics

Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl has warned from a coalition between the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party (FPÖ). The influential Social Democrat – who became mayor of the capital in 1994 – appealed in his speech at yesterday’s (Tues) International Workers’ Day in downtown Vienna to fellow party members to do everything they can […]

Bonuses must mean tax cuts, says ÖVP boss

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Politics

The People’s Party (ÖVP) has suggested to lower the tax pressure on companies which share their profits with employees. ÖVP chairman Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Tues) firms which decided to pay bonuses to staff in economically successful times should benefit by such a tax reform. The foreign minister added that his party would present detail […]

SPÖ is up to date, says Schlögl

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Politics

Former Social Democratic (SPÖ) Interior Minister Karl Schlögl has rejected claims that his party is in need of a new programme. Only 27 to 28 per cent of Austrians would elect the SPÖ at the moment, according to polls by Viennese research groups Karmasin and OGM. The left-wing party – which is headed by Werner […]

Maier demands rail tunnel referendums

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Politics

Outgoing People’s Party (ÖVP) parliament member (MP) Ferdinand Maier has suggested to let Austrians decide about the future of the various Austrian railway tunnel projects. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) of Chancellor Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger’s ÖVP decided to spend more than three billion Euros on the Semmering tunnel. Only last week, the […]

Oppitz-Plörer wins mayoral election

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Politics

Innsbruck Mayor Christine Oppitz-Plörer has been confirmed in office. The head of Für Innsbruck (FI, For Innsbruck), a conservative list which was established by former People’s Party (ÖVP) officials, received 56 per cent in Sunday’s runoff election. Christoph Platzgummer, who ran for the ÖVP, was supported by only 44 per cent of participating residents of […]