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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


Chancellor Sticks to Dismissal of Interior Minister - FPÖ Ministers Exit Government

Government crisis. Chancellor Kurz sticks to dismissal of interior minister. Right-wing populist FPÖ ministers leave government.
May 20, 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


Standardised Austria-wide Autumn Holidays as of 2020/21

From the school year 2020/21 there will be uniform autumn holidays in Austria between National Day and All Saints Day - from 27 to 31 October - according to the unanimous decision of the Austrian National Council. There will be no additional school holidays, the teaching time will not be changed. Only the distribution of school-autonomous days will change. Specifically, the days off after Easter and Whitsun will be cancelled. This would ensure relief for pupils, teachers and parents.
May 16, 2019


Business Location - New Approach to Anchoring the State Goal of 'Economy'

The governing parties have made a new attempt to anchor the state goal of "economy". The bill received majority approval in the Constitutional Committee from the ÖVP and FPÖ, although a two-thirds majority remains questionable.
May 10, 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


Freedom of the Media: Opposition Attacks Interior Minister Kickl

The opposition criticises the e-mail from Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (ÖVP), which is referred to as a "Gleichschaltungs" e-mail and would be a direct attack on democracy, freedom of opinion and freedom of the press.
September 25, 2018

Meet the Minister in Charge for Austria's Presidency of the Council of the EU: Gernot Blümel
During Austria's EU Council Presidency, the name Gernot Blümel, the Federal Minister responsible not only for the EU but also for art, culture and media, will be mentioned time and again. Blümel is also chairmen of the Vienna ÖVP and a close confidant of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. His ministry is even physically integrated into the Federal Chancellery.
June 5, 2018


Annual Report of the European Commission: How did Austria do?

The European Commission presented its annual reports on 27 EU member states. How did Austria do? Well, it kinda ended up with a black eye. The report took a pop at Vienna for a number of structural shortcomings, including tax burden on labour, pension and healthcare expenditures, house prices, restrictive regulation in the services markets, stagnating productivity and and not enough action on spreading digital technologies. That isn’t a particularly good report card for the previous coalition government of ÖVP und SPÖ. Let’s see if the new coalition government of ÖVP und FPÖ can make the grade the next time around.
March 11, 2018


Extremism-Gate: Special Session of Austrian National Council Convened

The somewhat opaque events surrounding the house search of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-Terrorism (BVT) are now making political waves. It is deeply disturbing that a unit, which in itself is not responsible for this, is supposed to have carried out the house search at the BVT and allegedly took highly sensitive intelligence information with it. The matter stinks to high heaven. The Austrian opposition has convened the National Council. The parties SPÖ, NEOS and Liste Pilz (LP) demand that Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) provides a complete explanation.
March 9, 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


Mitterlehner Replaces Spindelegger as Party Head and Vice Chancellor

Yesterday evening Reinhold Mitterlehner has been elected by the ÖVP board as new party chairman and vice chancellor. Spindelegger himself had left the party headquarters shortly before. The decision in the ÖVP board was unanimous. He is supposed to lead the party out of the crisis. His first statement after the designation on Tuesday evening was: "We must close ranks." He now wants to discuss in which direction to proceed with the tax reform. A political decision will fall but only in the fall.
August 27, 2014


Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger Quits

Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger resigned today after eight months in office, the reason are differences within the People's Party (ÖVP) on debt reform and tax. He also stepped down as vice chancellor and head of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the center-right junior partner of the grand coalition government.
August 26, 2014


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


Austria Far from Reaching Fiscal Targets

Josef Moser, President of the Austrian Audit Court fears that the zero deficit cannot be achieved until 2016.
January 18, 2014


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´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


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: New Austerity Package to Come?

Austrian economists expect that the new government will draft another austerity package. Otherwise the fiscal objectives will not be achieved.
November 6, 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


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: Fekter Does Not Publish Controversial Industrial Location Study

According to a recent study on the quality of Austria´s industrial location, the number of leaving multinational companies is growing.
August 25, 2013


Austrian Audit Court Criticizes Group Taxation

The costs of the Austrian group taxation model total about € 450m, the Audit Court said in a current report.
July 19, 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


Austrian Governing Parties Disagree on EU Budget

The Austrian people´s party (ÖVP) has criticized Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ). The social democrats argue that the coalition partner ÖVP has “no team sprit”.
February 11, 2013


Fekter to Present Tax Reform Concept

In May, Austria´s minister of finance Maria Fekter (ÖVP) will present a new fiscal concept.
January 14, 2013


Vienna´s Debt Level Grows Considerably

In 2013, the public debt level of Austria´s capital will increase to € 4.34bn.
November 19, 2012


Austrian Socialists Call for New Taxes

The governing SPÖ wants to introduce new property and inheritance taxes.
October 4, 2012


Austrian Railways to be Privatized?

ÖVP (Austrian People´s Party) again pushes for a privatization of ÖBB (Austrian Railways). The sale of the freight division would be conceivable, ÖVP´s chairman Michael Spindelegger says.
October 2, 2012


Austrian Central Bank Looks for New Governor

Next year, the mandates of the board of directors are expiring. Ewald Nowotny is said to be re-elected in his current position.
September 27, 2012


Stronach Founds New Party: „Historical Event“

The former CEO of the Canadian automotive group Magna has presented his new party “Team Stronach” today.
September 27, 2012


ÖIAG to be Enlarged?

Publicly held companies like Verbund or Austrian Railways should be integrated into the Austrian industrial holding group.
September 21, 2012


Lopatka New State Secretary in Austrian Foreign Ministry

Reinhold Lopatka (Austrian People's Party - ÖVP) was sworn in as State Secretary in the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs today by Austrian President Heinz Fischer.
September 12, 2012


Austrian Railways: Pöchhacker Opposes to Privatization Plans

Horst Pöchhacker, President of ÖBB´s (Austrian Railways) is against a privatization of the company. Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) recently suggested to sell ÖBB to Frank Stronach.
September 10, 2012


Fekter Wants Tax Reform

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper „Presse“, Finance Minister Maria Fekter said to plan a tax reform. The entry tax rate should be lowered.
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


Paierl Said to Become Next Chairman at ÖIAG

After months of discrete discussions, the new chairman of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) seems to be certain.
August 16, 2012


Property Taxes: Controversy Between Austrian Government Parties

The Austrian social democrats still push for introducing property taxes. The coalition partner ÖVP rejects the idea.
August 14, 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


Resistance Against Enlargement of ÖIAG

The chairman of ÖBB´s (Austrian Railways) supervisory board Horst Pöchhacker rejects the idea of integrating ÖBB, Verbund or Asfinag into the publicly held Austrian industrial holding ÖIAG.
July 19, 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


ÖIAG Looking for New Leader

After the resignation of Markus Beyrer, the Austrian publicly held ÖIAG (Austrian Industrial Holding) seeks for a new CEO.
July 5, 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