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Michael Spindelegger
Why Austria´s Finance Minister Has to Go
Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger is everything but firmly in his saddle. Behind the scenes, the fight for Spindelegger´s succession has started with full strength.
February 8, 2014
Austrian Minister of Finance Under Fire
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Economics, criticizes the Austrian government sharply. Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger is put on the defensive.
February 5, 2014
Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria
In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.
February 1, 2014
Austrian Government Skirting around Decision over Hypo
A paper reporting about the four options for downsizing Hypo Group has not been published by the government yet.
January 31, 2014
Austria: Government Makes € 1bn for Hypo Group Available in Budget
Nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria has listed a need for state subsidies in the amount between € 400m and € 900m in this year’s downsizing plan.
January 29, 2014
Spindelegger: “No Exploitation of Resolution Funds”
Among the finance ministers in Europe, there are still different perceptions regarding the bank resolution fund.
January 28, 2014
Austria: Opposition Presses for Information
The Austrian Greens demand information in regard to problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
January 28, 2014
Austria: Bank Particpation Still Uncertain
It is still unclear whether the Austrian banks will participate in a downsizing construction of Hypo Group. First results will be presented in February
January 28, 2014
Nowotny: “We Want Clarity“
The governor of the Austrian National Bank presses the government for swift actions to find an acceptable downsizing solution for Hypo Group. Further steps will only be made in February.
January 27, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Austrian Government Is Helpless
The nationalized lender urgently needs a sustainable future concept. In reality, however, uncertainty is dominating.
January 27, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision Within First Quarter of 2014
The long-awaited meeting between the government and Hypo Group’s taskforce has been fixed to find a solution of the Austrian problem bank. The option of a bank participation is still on top of the list.
January 23, 2014
Spindelegger Met Almunia: „Bank Aids Were No Issue“
Today, Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger has met Commissioner for competition Joaquin Almunia.
January 20, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Austrian Government Becomes Nervous
Although the participation of the private banking sector is unrealistic, the Austrian government does not give up. However, the time pressure grows week by week.
January 18, 2014
Austria: What Happened to the Budget Gap?
The question remains even after the government was confirmed and the first tax package presented.
January 16, 2014
Austria: Expert Paper for Hypo Group’s Bad Bank
An expert paper about possible downsizing options for state-controlled problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is expected to be handed in to the government until the middle of the week.
January 13, 2014
Austrian Budget Planning to be Completed in May
The six groups in the National Assembley have agreed to the parliamentary plan for the first half year of 2014.
January 13, 2014
Austria: VBAG Not to Receive Further Aids
Ailing banking institute VBAG of the Austrian Volksbanken Group will not be granted further state aids.
January 13, 2014
Austria: First Tax Package to Be Presented
The Austrian government intends to present the first tax package tomorrow.
January 8, 2014
Austrian Public Debt Reaches New High
The total size of public debt was never before so high. In the next years, the public debt ratio will come close to 80% of GDP.
December 30, 2013
Hypo Group: Austrian Government Seems Aimless
Although the restructuring of the nationalized Austrian lender is one of the most pressing issues, the Austrian government could not present a sound concept yet.
December 27, 2013
Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal
Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013
„No Debt-Backed Tax Reform“
Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger underlines that Austria has to put more effort into fiscal consolidation measures.
December 23, 2013
Austria: New Government Already Disappoints in the First Week
In 2014, Austria will not achieve its fiscal objectives, new Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger admitted. Austria´s fiscal situation is observed critically. The country faces a new austerity package.
December 23, 2013
Austria: Options of Bad Bank for Hypo under Examination
Finance Minister Spindelegger intends to meet with experts to discuss options of a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 20, 2013
Austria: Opening Balance Reveals Massive Mountain of Debt
Public debts exceed the federal assets by more than double the amount, as revealed by the opening balance published by outgoing Finance Minister Maria Fekter last weekend.
December 16, 2013
Austria: Spindelegger Replaces Fekter
The designated cabinet members were presented to the public today. Maria Fekter will not be a cabinet member anymore.
December 13, 2013
Austria´s Government: Old Turns into New
The leaders of the old government, Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, announced to form a new government.
December 12, 2013
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Liebscher Against Haircut
Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group’s supervisory board, is strictly against a debt cut at the nationalized bank. He expects a decision about a bad bank only in the first quarter next year.
December 10, 2013
Hypo Alleged of Having Hoarded Assets of Former Serbian Regime
A Serbian NGO suspects assets of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at Hypo Group Alpe Adria. The Austrian bank strongly rejects this allegation.
December 6, 2013
Faymann: “No Outstanding Issues That Cannot Be Solved“
In an interview with Austrian daily “Kurier“ Chancellor Werner Faymann rejects the idea of early elections and underlines that there were no unsolvable issues.
December 4, 2013
Spindelegger: Reforms Remain “Watchword“
Today Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has reported to President Heinz Fischer about “difficulties” in the coalition negotiations, as announced by Spindelegger publicly.
December 4, 2013
Austria: Insolvency of Hypo Group Still an Option
Both the center of government and the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) reject Hypo Group’s bankruptcy. However, insolvency options are currently being assessed by the Finance Ministry and the Federal Law Office.
December 4, 2013
Faymann: Austrian State Finances are Stable
Chancellor Werner Faymann rejects the opposition’s claim that Austria is on its path to national bankruptcy.
December 3, 2013
Austria: Government Rules Out Hypo Group’s Insolvency
Chancellor Faymann referred to incalculable economic and political consequential effects due to the liabilities assumed by Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 3, 2013
RBI Approves Participation in Bad Bank for Hypo
CEO of RBI Sevelda expects Austrian government to set a time limit for bank levies until the end of 2016.
November 18, 2013
Hypo Bad Bank Not to be Established Before 2014
Insiders do not expect the downsizing unit for state-owned Hypo Group Alpe Adria to be established before 2014.
November 15, 2013
Austria: Fekter Indicates Resignation
Even before the general elections in September rumors were circling around about Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s withdawal from her position.
November 14, 2013
Austria: Bad Bank For Hypo As Good As Guaranteed.
Chancellor Faymann and Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger are in favor of creating a bad bank for Hypo Group.
November 14, 2013
Austrian Budget Gap „Only € 18.4bn“
The Austrian government has re-calculated the fiscal shortfall. Scheduled Bank aids come at € 5.8bn. There will be no austerity package, the government claims.
November 14, 2013
Austria: Budget Gap Smaller than Expected
The budget gap will, according to the latest reports, comes at an amount between € 21bn and 25bn until the year 2018. Earlier there had been talk of a shortfall amounting up to € 30bn to € 40bn.
November 13, 2013
Austria: New Fiscal Difficulties
Austria´s state budget 2014 is not resolved yet. Moreover, a number of assumptions are highly uncertain.
October 17, 2013
Austria: President Prefers Grand Coalition
President Heinz Fischer has confirmed his wish for the formation of a grand coalition as this would be “the most reasonable solution”, according to him. Other possibilities were afflicted with too many uncertainties.
October 7, 2013
Austria: Pussyfooting around Forming Government Coalition
The Austrian People’s Party is picky in regard to choosing a coalition partner. So far the ÖVP has shown no interest in starting coalition talks with former partner SPÖ. However, there are not many options left.
October 2, 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
Does Austria Need Further Privatizations?
Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder wants to support the Vienna Stock Exchange. Without further privatizations, the stock market in Vienna could be history soon.
September 24, 2013 · Updated: September 25, 2013; 11:30
Austria: SPÖ and ÖVP Hold Slight Majority of Votes
According to the latest survey, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) will have to face losses in the elections of the National Assembly on Sunday. However, they should be able to hold the majority.
September 24, 2013
Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.
September 24, 2013
Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats
Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.
September 18, 2013
Faymann: New Government Will Be Smaller
In an interview with Austrian daily “Österreich“ (Sunday issue) Chancellor Faymann announced that the new government will be reduced by two members of parliament.
September 16, 2013
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