Heinz Christian Strache

FPÖ-Russia Relations After a Year of War in Ukraine

Traditionally close to the Kremlin, Austria's Freedom Party is currently part of a thriller in parliament. Its party finances and any contracts with the Russian party United Russia are still not largely known, even after a year of war in Ukraine.

February 22, 2023

Corruption in Austria: Thomas Schmid Wants to Become a State Witness and Incriminates Kurz Government Heavily

The former head of ÖBAG and Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid, has heavily incriminated ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), his former close companion, in the Casag proceedings triggered by the Ibiza video and wants to become a state witness in the proceedings against Kurz. This was announced by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA). Schmid had approached the investigators with the request, but a formal application had not yet been made.

October 19, 2022

Alexander Van der Bellen's First Term in Office: A Presidency With Many Ups and Downs

A final chapter of the first term of the Austrian President is approaching. On 9 October, Alexander Van der Bellen will contest Austria's 14th federal presidential election and will attempt to defend his office. At Vindobona, we take this opportunity to look back on the first term of the President.

August 17, 2022

How Gazprom Helps the Kremlin to Manipulate Austria

The Russian government uses the majority state-owned energy corporation Gazprom to exploit Europe's dependency on Russian natural gas, and Austria is no exception. Read how the Kremlin uses Gazprom to influence Austria.

March 8, 2022

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

Austria's Ex-Vice Chancellor Strache Found Guilty of Corruption

Former vice chancellor and the ex-head of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) Heinz-Christian Strache has been sentenced to 15 months' conditional imprisonment for bribery at Vienna's regional court. The co-defendant and owner of the private clinic in Vienna-Währing, Walter Grubmüller, was sentenced to twelve months for bribery, also on probation.

August 27, 2021

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

Casinos-Austria Affair: Austria's Previous Finance Minister No Longer Available

Austria's former and potentially future Finance Minister Hartwig Löger is no longer available for another term in office. A connection with the current Casinos-Austria Affair, in which the Office of the Public Prosecutor for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) is investigating, would not exist.

November 13, 2019

Ibizagate: New Book Proves Allegations Against Former Freedom Party Leader Strache

A secretly recorded video led to the fall of Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache and Deputy Leader of the Freedom Party Johann Gudenus in May. Now the journalists of the Süddeutsche Zeitung who took part in the unveiling describe what else could be seen on the Ibiza video and how Strache was tempted to behave corruptly.

August 22, 2019

Ibiza-Video - New Elections in Austria after Vice Chancellor Resignation

After the release of the incriminating video of "foreign secret services" and the resulting resignation of Vice-Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) headed by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz calls for early elections as soon as possible. He had also informed the Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. "Enough is enough", Kurz said in a press statement on Saturday evening.

May 18, 2019

InvestInAustria - Business Location Initiative Creates Jobs and Prosperity

At "InvestInAustria" 100 international companies from 16 countries were represented. Three new investments (Heitec , Port Energy Logistic, Lasertec ) with a total investment volume of 30 million Euro could be secured and will create jobs and added value in Austria. As an output of the previous event, investments amounting to around 380 million euros were made in Austria and more than 450 jobs were created.

March 1, 2019

Setback for the UN - Austria Won't Sign Global Migration Pact

Austria will follow the US and Hungary in backing out of a United Nations pact on migration (Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration) over concerns that it will blur the line between illegal and legal migration.

October 31, 2018

Austria's Vice-Chancellor Also Wants Headscarf Ban for Students

An extension is now under discussion since yesterday. Heinz-Christian Strache requested a comprehensive ban on headscarves in a TV appearance analogous to Turkey, as it had applied there until before the AKP. Until now it was decided that children under the age of ten should not wear headscarves. The government wanted to propose a law by summer for which it needs the votes of the opposition. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who made the appearance together with Strache, agreed with Strache that he is completely on the same line.

April 6, 2018

Austrian Government Presents Double Budget 2018/19: EU Requirements Are Met - 2019 Balanced Budget

The new Austrian government is planning a zero deficit for next year, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ) have announced. The planned reduction in corporation tax could be of interest to foreign investors and companies.

February 28, 2018

Meet Her Excellency Austria's New Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl

Karin Kneissl (53) was recently appointed Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs. At present, she is busy touring Europe and introducing herself to her counterparts, or inviting them to the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs in Vienna.

February 20, 2018

Austria: Right-Winged Extreme Party Buoyed by Tailwind

The Austrian right-winged Freedom Party (FPÖ) is using the disappointment over the grand coalition’s inability to tackle major economic issues to its advantage.

May 21, 2014

Hypo Petition Puts Pressure on Austrian Government

The support of the online petition for the establishing of an investigation committee has gained more than 105,000 supporters which puts increasing pressure on the government.

March 28, 2014

Austria: Freedom Party Admits Complicity

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) admits that it was also to blame for the disaster around Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

March 19, 2014

Austrian Government Wants International Group of Experts

More and more voices for a parliamentary investigation committee for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria are being raised even within the SPÖ and the ÖVP. However, the government has other plans.

February 20, 2014

Hypo-Disaster: Harsh Criticism from Opposition

The opposition parties have expressed their unanimous criticism about the government failing to come to a joint decision with the Austrian banks and consequently forwarding all costs to the taxpayers.

February 11, 2014

Austria: Oppositional FPÖ Wants Return to Shilling

The largest Austrian opposition party wants to leave the Eurozone.

December 7, 2013

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

Austria: Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor Lose in Trust Index

Compared to the results of last month, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and his Deputy Michael Spindelegger have lost the voters’ trust according to the APA/OGM Trust Index that was carried out on a sample of 500 persons.

September 13, 2013

Survey: Faymann Best Chances of Becoming Chancellor

According to a survey carried out for Austrian daily “Standard”, the Social Democrats are gaining in votes while the Austrian People’s Party is slightly falling behind.

August 30, 2013

Strache: „No New Aids for Greece“

Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), demands that further bail-out funds for Greece should be stopped immediately.

August 27, 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

Austria: Opposition Puts Forward Constitutional Challenge

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

March 9, 2013

OeNB Does Not Bring Gold Reserves to Austria

Unlike Deutsche Bundesbank, the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) does not transfer the gold reserves from London back home.

January 17, 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

FPÖ Files Suit Against ESM

The biggest Austrian opposition party files a legal complaint against the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) at the Austrian Constitutional Court.

October 15, 2012

Austrian Chamber of Economics Supports ESM Decision in Germany

Austria´s Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner: “The decision of the German Constitution Court is an important signal for investments and will promote growth.”

September 12, 2012

Nowotny Hopes for ESM

The governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) thinks that the bond purchases are not sufficient. Politics must help ECB, he argues.

September 10, 2012

Austrian Government and National Bank Against Return to Shillling

Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann and Governor Ewald Nowotny oppose to the idea of returning to Austria´s former currency.

September 1, 2012

FPÖ Wants Nowotny to Resign

The biggest Austrian opposition party criticizes the governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sharply. FPÖ´s leader Strache blames Nowotny to violate the “no bailout” clause.

September 1, 2012

FPÖ´s Strache Calls for Leaving Eurozone

Heinz-Christian Strache, chairman of the Austrian oppositional freedom party (FPÖ), suggests an Austrian exit.

August 29, 2012

Does the Euro Collapse Now? (Part 1)

The nervousness among Europe´s leaders is growing. Not only Finland warns of a breakdown.

August 17, 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

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

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

FPÖ Claims Popular Vote on ESM

The biggest Austrian opposition party warns of giving up the sovereignty. Together with the smallest opposition party BZÖ, FPÖ will vote against ESM.

June 21, 2012

Fekter Defends Euro Aids

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlines the „necessity of solidarity“ and stressed ist commitment to the common currency. The Austria opposition party FPÖ made a serious protest.

June 16, 2012

FPÖ: „Europe Has a Banking Problem“

The Austrian opposition leader Heinz-Christian Strache criticizes that European countries are downgraded due to their banks. Further bank aids would be likely.

June 13, 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

FPÖ Wants Cuts in Spendings

The biggest Austrian opposition party suggests reducing public expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. Chairman Strache calls for a “subsidy brake”.

January 30, 2012

Strache Claims Cut in Subsidies

The chairman of the Austrian opposition party FPÖ criticized the government fiercely for its fiscal policy.

January 23, 2012

Debt Brake: Government Tries Again

In order to install the „debt brake“ into the constitution, the Austrian government tries again to persuade the opposition parties.

December 12, 2011

Opposition Not Convinced: „Debt Brake“ Fails

The Austrian government´s plans to introduce a “debt brake” in the constitution has failed. The three opposition parties are against the idea.

December 5, 2011