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OEVP Austrian Peoples Party
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
ÖIAG: No Solution in Sight
Today, the supervisory board of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) had a meeting. A clear strategy will not be found anyway.
June 28, 2012
Spindelegger: „Austria Must Delegate Competencies“
The Austrian Vice Chancellor and chairman of ÖVP Michael Spindelegger wants the centralize the European Union.
June 27, 2012
„ÖIAG Should Manage Banking Interests“
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter wants to upgrade the Austrian state holding ÖIAG.
June 23, 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
Government´s Plans on Bank Insolvency Law Failed
The Austrian government initially planned to initiate a bank insolvency law in order to liquidate financially stricken banks without major difficulties. Now, the plan has failed.
June 22, 2012
Uncertain Future for ÖIAG
After CEO Markus Beyrer announced to resign, a new debate about the future of the publicly held Austrian industrial holding emerged.
June 19, 2012
A “Speech to Austria”? No.
The disenchantment with politics in Austria is as big as never before. An ambitious, but meaningless speech of Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger will not change the misery.
May 15, 2012
Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans
The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.
April 17, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Fekter to Remain as Finance Minister
This week, rumors on the replacement of the Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter occurred. Claus Raidl, who was said to replace Fekter, denies this.
April 13, 2012
Telekom Austria: Pecik Denies Sales Talks
The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to have had sales talks with China Mobile. Pecik reaffirms to remain at Telekom Austria as “long-term investor”.
March 19, 2012
Wirtschaftsbund: Leitl Re-Elected
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, has been re-elected as chairman of Wirtschaftsbund. 92.7% of the delegates voted for Leitl.
March 10, 2012
Public Dispute Over Privatizations
The two government parties disagree to the sale of further publicly held companies. ÖVP pushes for privatizations, for SPÖ the idea is inacceptable.
February 29, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
