Michael Spindelegger

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

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

Hypo Needs € 700m in Capital Increase

The ailing banking group needs a further capital injection in order to fulfill the lawful capital adequacy requirements.

September 12, 2013

Austria: Spindelegger Confident About Becoming New Chancellor

The intense elections campaign for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) has officially started on Tuesday. Deputy Chancellor and party leader Spindelegger promised more jobs and housing space.

September 11, 2013

Austria: Spindelegger in Favor of “Creative Model“ for Banks

Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger seems willing to lead open discussions about the extension of bank levies.

September 6, 2013

Haselsteiner as Candidate for NEOS

Austrian party NEOS has added former CEO of Strabag Hans-Peter Haselsteiner as top candidate for the parliamentary elections. Haselsteiner has so far supported the party behind the scenes.

September 5, 2013

Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.

September 5, 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

Austria: Faymann Mocks Schwarzenberg

The Austrian Chancellor reacts to Schwarzenberg’s criticism against Foreign Minister Spindelegger.

August 28, 2013

Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”

Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.

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

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

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

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: 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

Austrian Appointed Head of the OSCE in Albania

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulates Ambassador Raunig on his appointment as head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

July 22, 2013

Austria: Rumors about Fekter Resigning as Finance Minister after Elections

Will Fekter become President of the National Council after the elections? In government circles speculations are circling about Finance Minister Fekter quitting her post as after the national elections in September.

July 10, 2013

Spindelegger: Fitness Program for Austria

Austrian economy supposed to be boosted by reforms of “Unternehmen Österreich 2025, and a rejection of new taxes.

July 10, 2013

Diplomatic Uproar After Bolivian Emergency Landing in Vienna

After the allegedly forced stop of in Austria, Bolivian President Evo Morales has returned to his home country. International criticism arises, also in regard to Austria’s actions.

July 4, 2013

Snowden Applies For Asylum in Austria

Former US intelligence official Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in several countries, among them Austria, according to WikiLeaks.

July 2, 2013

Austrian Coalition to Take Stock of Legislative Period

In a joint interview with several leading Austrian newspapers, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger take stock of the legislative period so far.

June 28, 2013

EU Accession Talks With Serbia Around the Turn of the Year

The EU Ministers for Foreign and European Affairs agree that EU Accession negotiations with Serbia should commence around the turn of the year.

June 25, 2013

Turkey: Prospects of EU Accession Talks Brighten

Turkey’s prospects of the continuing of the EU Accession negotiations have brightened. During a meeting in Luxembourg several foreign ministers took a much more moderate tone.

June 24, 2013

Alpine to Be Shut Down

Bankrupt-gone construction company Alpine is facing a breaking down. After negotiations about establishing a rescue company failed, the enterprise will apply for a shutdown.

June 24, 2013

Spindelegger: "Clear Signal for Serbia and Kosovo Expected from EU Summit at End of June"

Austrian Vice-Chancellor with Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo at the Europaforum Wachau conference; clear commitment for EU expansion in the Balkans

June 19, 2013

Austria Pulling Back Peacekeepers from Syria-Israel Border

Austria announced to pull back its around 380 peacekeepers from the 1,000-strong UN force out of the Golan from the UNDOF mission after grave incidents occurred in Syria.

June 7, 2013

Austria: Liebscher as Chairman of Hypo Group’s Supervisory Board

Liebscher is to take over Ditz’ position after the meeting of bodies on June 21.

June 5, 2013

Austria: Finance Ministry Regrets Ditz’ Withdrawal

Johannes Ditz, chairman of Hypo Group’s suvervisory board, announced his withdrawal yesterday.

June 4, 2013

Hypo: Ditz to Resign

Chairman of Hypo Group’s supervising board Johannes Ditz might soon resign, according to media reports.

June 3, 2013

Spindelegger: “The Danube and Black Sea Regions Will Bring a Vital Impetus for the Future of Europe in Its Entirety”

“Gateway to Europe” Conference in Krems, Austria

May 16, 2013

Spindelegger: Support for Serbian EU Membership

Vice Chancellor and Exterior Minister Michael Spindelegger has promised full support for Serbia on its way to a full EU membership.

May 6, 2013

Austria: Government Shows Unanimity About Banking Secret

Fekter criticized Social Democrats.

April 30, 2013

Austria: Solution for Bank Secret Issue Until May 22

After the recent turbulances within the Austrian government coalition, Chancellor Werner Faymann hopes to find an agreement with the EU concerning the bank secret until May 22.

April 29, 2013

Spindelegger: "Brave Agreement Between Serbia and Kosovo Important Sign of Liberation for Entire Region"

Win-win agreement should now quickly be implemented to the benefit of the people. The EU will have to deliver on its promise

April 23, 2013

Austria About to Lose Fiscal Secret

The Austrian government declared to negotiate with the EU about the abanonment of the fiscal secret.

April 9, 2013

Barroso: „Existantial Crisis is Over“

President of EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso came to Vienna to meet with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger.

April 6, 2013

"Croatia is Paving the Way for the Entire Balkans"

Austria’s Vice Chancellor advocates the commission’s assessment and is looking forward to welcoming Croatia as a new EU member.

March 29, 2013

Spindelegger Criticizes Orban Sharply

Austria´s Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger wants Hungary to “return to the European legal basis”.

March 16, 2013

Austria Welcomes Agreement between Croatia and Slovenia

"The last stumbling block for Croatia's accession to the EU has been removed by solving the Ljubljanska Banka issue."

March 13, 2013

Hungary: Austrian Farmers on the Verge of Dispossession

A new regulation should help Hungarians prevent from "greedy speculators".

March 8, 2013

UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Vienna

The UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum draws a close with the Vienna Declaration. The forum was attended by Heads of State and Global Foreign Ministers.

March 1, 2013

Austria: Controversy About Property Taxes

According to Christian Keuschnigg, director of IHS, property taxes would have a negative impact on economic growth and the employment situation.

February 20, 2013