Green Party

Europe's Energy Dilemma Requiring Austria and Germany to Rethink in Wake of Russian Aggression

Due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Europe has to face new questions about energy policy, which had been known for many years but were largely ignored and deferred. The much-discussed gas embargo in recent weeks is to further intensify the sanctions against Russia and its economy. Read more about the current situation.

April 6, 2022

Access to Austrian Citizenship for Descendants of Nazi Victims Expanded

A new amendment to the law will now make it easier to obtain Austrian citizenship as a descendant of a victim of National Socialism. This has now been passed in parliament and is an important step towards the recognition of history.

March 29, 2022

Austria Kicks Off Detachment Process from 80 Percent Dependence on Russian Gas

In order to no longer be dependent on Russian gas imports, the Austrian federal government decided on a new stockpiling of natural gas. This is to provide for the case of an import stop from Russia. Despite the high level of approval, the proposal has nevertheless come in for criticism.

March 25, 2022

Neutrality: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy May Now Be Able to Address the Austrian National Council After All

The ongoing debate on Austrian neutrality will maybe allow Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to speak to Austrian parliamentarians.

March 23, 2022

Dr. Erhard Busek Deceased: Austria Loses Staunch European and Great Expert on Eastern Europe

The former chairman of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Eastern Europe expert Eduard Busek has died at the age of 80. He left his mark on Austrian politics and was considered a great advocate of a common Europe.

March 14, 2022

Austria Opposes Further Expansion of Hungarian Nuclear Power Plant Paks II

All five Austrian parliamentary parties are opposed to the expansion of the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary due to serious safety concerns. The Environment Committee in parliament has unanimously called on the government to take all possible actions to oppose its construction. Read why Austria considers the power plant's expansion dangerous.

October 25, 2021

Austria's Strategy for the Upcoming European Council Meeting

Ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Austrian Chancellor Schallenberg, EU Minister Edtstadler, and members of parliament laid out Austria's strategy for the meeting. Read their stances on the key issues they plan to raise in Brussels.

October 22, 2021

Schallenberg and Linhart Inaugurated, Schallenberg to "Work Very Closely With Kurz"

The new Chancellor of Austria Alexander Schallenberg and new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart were sworn in by President Van der Bellen. In his first statement as Chancellor, Schallenberg said that he believes the allegations against his predecessor are false and that he would continue working closely with him. Read about the inauguration, what former Chancellor Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Kogler said about Schallenberg's appointment, and the entirety of Schallenberg's first statement as chancellor.

October 11, 2021

Ibiza Affair Committee Concludes in National Council: How Corrupt are Austrian Politicians?

How corruptible is Austrian politics? This question was explored by the deputies in the National Council session when discussing the recently published final report of the Ibiza-Affair Investigation Committee. Although the report was unanimously acknowledged, the parties were far apart in their conclusions.

September 23, 2021

Austrian Lockdown Continues Until January 24

The initially planned "free-testing" to escape the lockdown will not be possible. The opposition parties have resisted this intention by the government, which now means an extension of the current lockdown until January 24. Whether or not schools will return to their normal operations on January 18 has not been decided yet.

January 4, 2021

Austrian Government Plans Deficit of EUR 22.6 Billion

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, the Austrian government has agreed on a budget that plans with a deficit of EUR 22.6 billion for next year. Estimated lower revenues due to the weak economy on the one side face higher expenditures because of the subsidies for various businesses on the other.

November 20, 2020

New Viennese City Government Announced

The Social-Democratic Party (SPOE) under the lead of current and future Mayor Michael Ludwig and The New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS) have finished their negotiations to present a new city government for Vienna. The cornerstones of the program include an emphasis on education, the fight against climate change and a good health care system.

November 16, 2020

Vienna Election 2020: Social-Democrats Are Clear Winners

The current Mayor of Vienna and the leading candidate for this election, Michael Ludwig from the SPOE, has successfully defended the first place in Vienna. Compared to the last election, the Social-Democratic Party has increased its popularity in Vienna even further and will now start negotiations with the other parties to form the next government.

October 12, 2020

Berlin Will Welcome Delegation of the Austrian National Council

The German capital will be host to a meeting between several German politicians and a delegation from the Austrian National Council. The main topics comprise measures to cope with the Covid-19 crisis and EU issues.

September 4, 2020

Austria Has New Secretary of State for Art and Culture

Andrea Mayer, former Head of the Arts and Culture Section and current Cabinet Director of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, was presented to the public at a press conference today as the successor to Ulrike Lunacek as Secretary of State for Arts and Culture.

May 19, 2020

Portrait: Who is Alma Zadić, Austria's New Federal Minister of Justice?

Former refugee from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alma Zadić commits herself to work with passion and all her strength for a policy of unconditional human rights and social justice.

February 20, 2020

Austria's Blockade of the Libya Mission "Sophia"

The EU foreign ministers have reached a basic consensus for a military mission to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya. The EU naval operation "Sophia" in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, however, will be terminated, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in a statement after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

February 18, 2020

Transfer of Office: Bierlein Passes to Kurz

Previous Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein handed over the affairs of state to Sebastian Kurz after the new federal government was sworn in.

January 7, 2020

Alexander Schallenberg Remains Foreign Minister

Alexander Schallenberg will remain Foreign Minister, but with considerably less power.

January 2, 2020

Kurz Is Assigned the Mandate to Form a Government

Federal President Van der Bellen gave the mandate to form a government to the head of the Austrian People's Party, Sebastian Kurz. Kurz announced talks with all parties. The most discussed coalition variant is the cooperation with the Green Party.

October 7, 2019

Election 2019: Five Parties Make Their Entry into the Austrian National Council

Five political parties will be represented in the newly elected Austrian National Council. In addition to ÖVP, SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS, the Greens - after a two-year forced break - have also rejoined the House. The Liste JETZT, on the other hand, failed, as did the other small parties, at the 4% hurdle.

October 4, 2019

Government Formation: Party Leaders in the Presidential Chancellery

Next Monday, Federal President Van der Bellen will commission ÖVP leader Kurz to form a government.

October 2, 2019 · Updated: October 4, 2019; 13:03

What Do You Know About the Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen

Alexander Van der Bellen is an Austrian economist, former politician of the Green Party and since 26 January 2017 ninth Austrian Federal President of the Second Republic.

October 4, 2018 · Updated: September 2, 2019; 20:02

Paternity Leave Entitlement Decided by Parliament

Members of the Austrian National Council passed a resolution on the legal entitlement to Paternity Leave (Papamonat). Fathers now have the right to be granted time off. Changes have also been made to child benefit legislation.

July 5, 2019

Total Ban on Glyphosate in Austria Adopted

Austria is the first country in the European Union to ban the use of the controversial weedkiller glyphosate. The ban is legally controversial and could contradict EU law.

July 4, 2019

European Elections 2019: Austrian Preliminary Final Results

The preliminary result of the 2019 European elections (without absentee ballot) has been announced. The Austrian People's Party won clearly ahead of the Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). The Greens and NEOS followed in places 4 to 5. Votes cast by absentee ballot are not yet included in this result. The turnout without postal votes was 50.6%. In Vienna, the turnout including postal votes was 58.71%.

May 27, 2019

Austrian Government Dismissed: National Council Denies Government Confidence

The parliamentary motion of no confidence of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) was supported by the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Liste Jetzt. The majority of the members of the National Council thus expressed their distrust of Chancellor Kurz's government and removed it from office.

May 27, 2019

Austria's Government Faces Expected Motion of No Confidence

After the victory in the election to the European Parliament, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government are threatened with an abrupt end. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) will table their own motion of censure against the entire Kurz cabinet. A clear decision by the Freedom Party (FPÖ) is still pending.

May 27, 2019

European Elections - Who Stands for Election and How Can a Non-Austrian EU Citizen Vote in Austria?

After the political earthquake in Austria and the end of the turquoise-blue government, the EU election on Sunday is eagerly awaited. A decision will be made on 18 EU mandates from Austria. In European elections, EU citizens are entitled to vote in Austria as long as they are registered in the European electoral register.

May 24, 2019

EU Citizens in Austria - Vote for Your Austrian MEP at the European Elections 2019

EU citizens who have their main residence in Austria can vote for Austrian members of the European Parliament. Here we show you how this works and who you can choose.

February 25, 2019

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Harsh Criticism on Austrian Government

The Austrian opposition blames the government for concealing the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history. Governor of the Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny is under fire too.

February 6, 2014

Austrian Elections 2013: Government Punished by the Voters

The two governing parties SPÖ and ÖVP have reached their worst results ever. Nevertheless, nothing will change in Austria.

September 29, 2013

Austrian Elections 2013: Governing Parties Lose Moderately

The Austrian political landscape has changed. New parties will enter the Austrian Parliament. Nevertheless, there is no realistic alternative to the “grand coalition” between SPÖ and ÖVP.

September 29, 2013 · Updated: September 29, 2013; 17:59

Austrian Elections 2013: Majority of Government Wobbles

Tomorrow, Austria will hold elections. The coalition between the social democrats (SPÖ) and the conservatives (ÖVP) has to fear that the majority may be lost.

September 28, 2013

Austria: Opposition Puts Forward Constitutional Challenge

Fiscal Pact undermines sovereignty of parliament and forces the country to severe austerity measures.

March 9, 2013

Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 3)

Economists think that the budget does not contain enough reform steps. The opposition does not see any signs of progress.

October 16, 2012

Banking Package: Austrian Opposition Criticizes Government Sharply

Today, the Austrian Audit Court explained that costs may reach up to € 4.8bn.

September 26, 2012

Constitutional Court: ESM Examination Takes up to 6 Months

According to the biggest Austrian opposition party FPÖ, the European Stability Mechanism violates the Austrian constitution.

July 25, 2012

Fischer Signs ESM and Fiscal Pact

The Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer approves the parliamentary referanda on the highly controversial ESM and Fiscal Pact. Now, only a constitutional complaint may prevent these issues.

July 17, 2012

Austrian Opposition Parties Fight Against Fiscal Pact

The three Austrian opposition parties FPÖ, The Greens and BZÖ announced to bring a complaint of unconstitutionality against the Fiscal Pact.

July 13, 2012

Fischer Wants to Check ESM

Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer does not sign the ESM approval by the Austrian Parliament yet. „I am not under time pressure.“ he says.

July 11, 2012

ESM Approved by Austrian Parliament

The controversial European Stability Mechanism was ratified by the Austrian National Council. The right opposition parties criticized the approval massively.

July 6, 2012

Banking Supervision: Satisfaction and Criticism

Austrian Members of the European Parliament welcomed the decisions taken by the euro summit. By contrast, the opposition party FPÖ criticizes the result as „final step towards a debt union“.

July 3, 2012

Austria Ratifies ESM

The government parties SPÖ and ÖVP got support by the oppositional Green Party. The remaining opposition parties criticized the „loss of sovereignty“ massively.

July 2, 2012

Green Party: ESM Approval Depends on Financial Transaction Tax

The Austrian Green party will only vote for the ESM if there is a basic consent for the financial transaction tax.

June 22, 2012

Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria

The Swiss National Council approved the tax deal with Austria. Illegal funds of Austrian nationals in Switzerland will be taxed.

May 30, 2012

Green Party: “Telekom Austria was the Cash Cow“

Gabriela Moser (Green Party) calls the Austrian government to implement a telecommunication strategy. Under the ÖVP-FPÖ government, Telekom Austria was abused as “cash cow”, Moser says.

May 23, 2012

Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal

For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.

April 18, 2012

Fiscal Treaty: Austrian Economy Satisfied, Opposition Criticizes

After the signing of the EU fiscal treaty at the EU Summit today, reactions in Austria are very different. The largest opposition party FPÖ calls for a popular vote.

March 2, 2012

„Banks are the Real Austrian Problem“

The Austrian opposition criticizes the rescue of VBAG by the government massively. Further bank aids are feared.

February 28, 2012