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Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community

Alpine: Former Employees to Receive Wages

Almost 5,000 former employees of bankrupt construction company Alpine can feel relieved as this week the insolvency contingency fund will start with settlements. However, creditors will only be given a rate of five percent.

August 27, 2013

Austria: First Chancellor’s Duel

Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) had their first official chancellor’s duel on TV on Monday. However, people waiting for a major dispute had been disppointed.

August 27, 2013

Poland: Tusk Remains Leader of Civic Platform

With almost 80 percent of votes Prime Minister Tusk wins elections for Civic Platform’s (PO) party leader.

August 26, 2013

EU Commission Threatens Croatia with Sanctions

Only a few weeks after its EU Accession, Croatia is facing threats of sanctions by the EU Commission.

August 26, 2013

2013: Decisive Year for Ukraine

Ukrainian World Congress: European integration as the key to Ukraine’s independence

August 26, 2013

Bulgaria and Romania to Strenthen Relations

Bulgaria and Romania plan to strengthen relations at bilateral, regional and European level.

August 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Klaus Reconsiders Returning to Politics

On Saturday, August 24, former Czech President Vaclav Klaus told Czech Television (CT) he is “seriously considering” returning to politics.

August 26, 2013

Erdogan Considers Leaving U.N.

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan puts pressure on the United Nations. The representation of the Security Council is not balanced, Erdogan criticizes.

August 26, 2013

Schwarzenberg Criticizes Spindelegger

The former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thinks that Austria´s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger mainly focuses on domestic politics. The CEE region should co-operate closer in future, he claims.

August 24, 2013

Faymann: Joint Combat against Unemployment

During a meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Bratusek and Croatian Prime Minister Milanovic and Austria’s second biggest city Graz, Austrian Chancellor Faymann pointed out the governments’ key tasks.

August 23, 2013

EU Commission: Unacceptable Russian Trade Ban

Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neigborhood Policy, expressed his anger at Russia’s measures to ban Ukrainian products from the domestic market.

August 23, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Polish Airline LOT Puts Pressure on Boeing

Polish carrier LOT is threatening Boeing with claims for compensations. Dreamliner purchased by the airline company were faced with weeks of grounding due to a series of technical problems. Losses are estimated in the amount of up to € 25m.

August 23, 2013

Austria: “Painful Cuts“ at RBI

According to the most recent results, the bank has losses in profits of more then 60 percent. A strict cost reduction program

August 22, 2013

Austria: Fekter Reserved About Further Aids for Greece

In the debate about a third bail-out package for Greece worth billions, Austrian Finance Minister Fekter presented herself restrained.

August 22, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Signs Parliamentary Dissolution

Zeman will sign the parliamentary dissolution on August 28. The path is now clear for early elections at the end of October.

August 22, 2013

Ukraine Diversifies Sources of Reverse Gas Supply

Ukraine plans on soon opening two more routes through Romania and Slovakia.

August 22, 2013

RBI Net Profit Below Analysts’ Expectations: Minus 60.5 Percent

Raiffeisen Bank International with consolidated profit of € 277 million in the first half 2013.

August 22, 2013

Turkey: Tear Gas against Demonstrators in Istanbul

The police has once more used tear gas against a new demonstration of critics of the government.

August 21, 2013

Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”

If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.

August 21, 2013

Poland: Budget Amendment Passed in Parliament

In order to adapt to the slow economic growth the government has amended the budet by permitting this year’s budget deficit to increase to PLN 16bn as well as approving PLN in spending cut, as announced at a press conferenced on Tuesday.

August 21, 2013

Former Austrian Chancellor to Counsel Serbian Government

Former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) was invited by the Serbian government to advise and support it on their path to the European Union.

August 21, 2013

Half of Bulgarian Citizens in Favor of New Elections

Only three months after elections in Bulgaria more than half of voters favor new elections, according to a survey. Supporters of the ruling Socialists are outnumbered.

August 21, 2013

Political Dissatisfaction in Poland Grows

Seven out of ten Poles are disappointed with Polish parliament

August 21, 2013

Czech Parliament Votes for New Elections

The Czech House of Representatives has decided its dissolution on Tuesday evening and therefore clears the way for early parliamentary elections, which in all likelyhood will take place on October 25 and 26.

August 21, 2013

Turkish National Bank to Increase Key Rate

In the fight against the downgrade of the Turkish Lira, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) has increased the key rate unexpectedly.

August 20, 2013

Czech Ex President Klaus Not to Return to Politics

Contrary to certain rumors, former President Vaclav Klaus does not plan to return to politics.

August 20, 2013

Czech Republic: New Trial for Dissolution of Parliament

The Czech parliament could enable new elections.

August 19, 2013

Austria: Spindelegger Demands Flexibility of Working Hours

Working hours have become the main issue of the election campaigns. The dispute was incensed by the claims of Minister of Economy Mitterlehner to allow up to twelve hours of work per day.

August 19, 2013

Austria: Kranebitter to Leave Hypo Group

After three and a half years, Gottwald Kranebitter steps back as CEO of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria. Tax payers are left with a burden running in the billions in the years to come.

August 19, 2013

Russia: Rusal to Slip into the Red

Russian metal giant Rusal has to decrease production by 357,000 tons this year due to a drop in prices in aluminium. The company now hopes for state subsidy.

August 19, 2013

Telekom Austria Has Still Growth Plans in Serbia

According to market rumors, the Vienna-listed telecommunication group is interested in taking over Serbia Broadband.

August 17, 2013

RBI´s CEO Sevelda: Drastic Losses in Hungary

Next week, Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) will present the results for the first half year of 2013. RBI will put effort into selective growth strategies.

August 17, 2013

Ukraine Reduces Imports of Gas by 35 Percent

From January to June 2013, Ukraine was able to reduce gas import by more than 35 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Ukrainian Statistics Service.

August 16, 2013

Bulgaria: Parliament Outvoted Presidential Veto Against Budget

With the support of the nationalists, the government has won over the Bulgarian President Plevneliev, who intended to avoid higher public spendings.

August 16, 2013

Faymann to Surpass Spindelegger at Trust Index

The APA/OGM trust indest for federal policits in Austria showed an increase of trust for Chancellor Faymann of 2 while Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Spindelegger slips to minus 2.

August 16, 2013

Russia Blocks Imports from Ukraine

Kyiv demands to immediately remove bureaucratic obstacles.

August 16, 2013

Czech Republic: New Elections Expected At the End of October

Prime Minister Petr Necas’ resignation leads to new elections soon. The Social Democrats, who want to introduce the Euro, are potential winners.

August 16, 2013

Cyprus: Bailout Should Have Come Sooner

Cyprus should have applied for an EU rescue package in 2011 to avoid the restrictive terms forced on investors to ensure support, its central bank governor said yesterday.

August 14, 2013

Schieder: “Successful Employment and Regional Economic Policy Has to Be Continued“

Austrian State Secretary rejects unreliable surveys “talking down” Austrian economy.

August 14, 2013

Hungary to Pay Back IMF Credit

A year earlier than necessary € 2.15bn go back to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

August 14, 2013

Slovenian PM Convinced Agreement on 2014 Budget Will Be Reached

Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek is convinced an agreement will be reached regarding changes to the 2014 budget

August 13, 2013

Czech Prime Minister Offers Resignation

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok has officially filed his resignation six days after a lost vote on confidence.

August 13, 2013

Commerzbank: Austria to Miss Budget Goals

Without a new austerity package, Austria will run up more debts than calculated in the bugdet plan, German Commerzbank says. The country’s AAA ratings are likely to decrease.

August 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg to Run for Parliamentary Elections

The former Foreign Minister named “autocratic” President Zeman as a motivation.

August 10, 2013

Austria: Spindelegger Wants Reform Government

The next government has to be a “reform government”, according to Austrian Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, since the one in office now has only shown little reform zeal.

August 9, 2013

Austria: Banks Indignant At Chancellor Faymann

Chancellor Werner Faymann has started the election campaign with an attack against the banks. However, CEO of Bank Austria Willibald Cernko points out that the banking industry secures 70,000 jobs in Austria.

August 9, 2013

Romania: Good Prospects for Economic Upturn

In Romania, the inflation forecast for 2013 and for 2014 has been lowered to 3.1 percent which is 0.1 percent less compared to previous figures.

August 9, 2013

Early Elections in Czech Republic Likely

After Czech’s new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed the vote of confidence, there are many indicators that President Milos Zeman will announce early elections.

August 9, 2013

Hungary: Land Reform Evokes Conflict

“Hungarian soil belongs to Hungarian people“. This is the maxim of national-conservative ruling party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

August 8, 2013