ÖBB: Opposition to Privatization Plans

Politics ♦ Published: June 6, 2011; 14:48 ♦ (Vindobona)

Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter has sparked a debate about the railway company’s future. Her plans have been criticized from many sides.

ÖBB: Opposition to Privatization Plans / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons / Josef Saurwein [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]

On Sunday, Maria Fekter announced to advocate a privatization of the Austrian Federal Railways: “The ÖBB can easily be privatized, I don’t see a problem there. I would prefer a strategic partnership so that the company can achieve the turnaround.” Furthermore, the Finance Minister rejected ÖBB’s request for a capital injection of € 400m.

Erich Foglar, President of the…