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SPOE
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
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
Austrian Government Resolves Austerity Package
Speculation terms on real estate will be abolished, the tax privilege on 13th and 14th salary too. Inheritance taxes or enrollment fees will not be re-introduced.
February 9, 2012
Austerity Package Takes Form
Although negotiations over the austerity package are not finished, first details are already known.
February 7, 2012
Government: Dispute Over Pensions
The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.
February 6, 2012
Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
January 31, 2012
ÖVP Does Not Exclude New Taxes Anymore
Against previous statements, the head of the Austrian conservatives, Michael Spindelegger, considers to introduce new taxes.
January 9, 2012
Austerity Package: Business Association Warns of New Taxes
New taxes would be an “attack against the economy”, general secretary Peter Haubner says.
January 4, 2012
Government: Different Opinions on Taxation
The social democrats want to re-introduce the inheritance tax. The people´s party plans to raise tax quotas for the 13th and 14th salary.
January 3, 2012
Austrian Enterprises Fear Nationalization in Hungary
Nationalization plans induce fierce criticism against the Hungarian Government. The Austrian waste management industry would be hit hard.
January 2, 2012
Austrian Government Wants to Save € 10bn
The coalition partners agreed to cut expenses by € 2.0bn per year until 2016. Details were not published.
December 27, 2011
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
Austrian „Debt Brake“ Resolved
Due to the lack in approval by the opposition parties, the „debt brake“ will only be resolved as a simple act.
December 8, 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
Austerity Measures or New Taxes?
The Austrian government has to reduce its deficits, after having announced the “debt break”. The social democrats call for property taxes.
November 19, 2011
Verbund´s Subsidiary APG Going Public?
The IPO of Verbund´s subsidiary Austrian Power Grid is being discussed.
October 25, 2011
Dispute Over A-Tec´s Liquidation
After the Sale of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec has failed, the subsidiaries will be sold separately. Austrian politicians warn of the loss of jobs, technology and tax revenue.
October 3, 2011
Austrian Telekom: Social Democrats Warn of „Unfriendly Takeover“
For the executive director of the SPÖ, Günther Kräuter, “a new major shareholder from Egypt or Russia would be problematic.”
September 12, 2011
“Telekom, Post and OMV Could Be Privatized Immediately”
Karlheinz Kopf calls for privatizations in the infrastructure sector. Last year, the Austrian state earned € 244m from its shareholdings.
September 5, 2011
Property Tax : € 25.000 for Every Rich Person?
The Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) claims to introduce property taxes. About 80.000 people in Austria would be concerned.
September 5, 2011
Mitterlehner with Plans for Reform of ÖIAG
The Minister of Economics intends to reposition the Austrian state holding company. Markus Beyrer, the new CEO, is currently evaluating new concepts.
July 25, 2011
Resistance to Privatization Plans
The SPÖ criticized the plans of its coalition partner ÖVP to reduce public participation in order to abate debt.
May 10, 2011
Vienna International Airport: Kirschner is the New Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Ewald Kirschner will temporarily lead the Supervisory Board until CEO Christoph Herbst takes over the chair again. Opinions are divided concerning the privatization of the company.
April 27, 2011
Lower Austria Seeks Airport Privatization
Lower Austrian Governor Erwin Pröll (ÖVP) intends to sell the 20% share of Vienna International Airport. The city of Vienna is not pleased at all.
April 23, 2011
Herbst’s Withdrawal is Imminent
The CEO of Vienna International Airport, Christoph Herbst, should be about to resign. He is considered to be seeking a position at the Constitutional Court.
April 22, 2011
Molterer Nominated as Vice-President of the EIB
Former Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer is nominanted as candidate for Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
February 23, 2011
SPÖ against expanding the ÖIAG
The expansion urged by Industrial Association and the ÖVP meets the resistance of the Social Democratic coalition partner.
February 15, 2011
WIFO Promotes Expansion of the State Holding
The Director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research wants to concentrate all Austrian state-owned enterprises in the ÖIAG.
February 5, 2011
ÖIAG: Markus Beyrer is the New Chairman
The so far Secretary General of the Industriellenvereinigung (Industrial Federation), Markus Beyrer, is Peter Michaelis’s successor on the board of the ÖIAG.
February 2, 2011
Demand for Elimination of the ÖIAG
IAs part of the succession process for the CEO position at the Austrian industrial holding (ÖIAG) political representatives are increasingly imposing conditions.
January 27, 2011
ÖIAG: Industrialist Beyrer is Favorite
In the discussion about the succession for the state holding company OIAG, the Secretary General of the IV (Federation of Austrian Industries), Markus Beyrer, is a favorite.
January 25, 2011
Austria's Minister of Social Affairs Wants to Extend the Years of Employment
Rudolf Hundstorfer wants to see older workers work longer, and is trying to get the consensus of businesses.
December 31, 2010
State Secretary for Finance: Euro-bonds as a Medium-term Strategy
The Austrian State Secretary for Finance, Andreas Schieder, does not discard Euro-bonds, against the majority view of German and Austrian politicians.
December 31, 2010
ÖIAG: Sale of the Post and Telekom is possible
Peter Michaelis, the departing CEO of the Austrian state holding company (ÖIAG) is considering the sale of interest holdings.
December 20, 2010
Skylink: Resignation of Executive Board or Supervisory Board
The Vienna Airport Skylink debacle is becoming a political issue. Staffing decisions have been made.
December 14, 2010
Wikileaks: Criticism of Austrian Politicians by the U.S.
The critical view on Austria's leading politicians on part of the U.S. is written down in the recent revelations of the Wikileaks platform.
December 5, 2010
New Regulations for Bank Managers' Bonuses
Additional compensations for managers in the banking sector are subject to new regulations approved by the Austrian National Council. Payments will be deferred in time.
December 5, 2010
Michaelis Leaves Austria's State Holding Company
The contract of Peter Michaelis, Chairman of The State Holding Company OIAG, expires in June 2011. There is disagreement over the succession in the government.
December 3, 2010
Vienna International Airport: Decisions on Personnel are Postponed
The previously rumored change of leadership at Vienna International Airport is not taking place yet. There is time until mid-December for the board, highly criticized because of Skylink.
November 26, 2010
It is Official: Coalition Between SPÖ and Greens in Vienna
Vassilakou becomes Deputy Mayor under Häupl. The program aims to have a recognizable green handwriting.
November 12, 2010
Austerity Package: Resistance from the Federal Provinces
While cries for savings are getting louder in the provinces, declarations of both consensus and objections come from the provincial capital cities
November 8, 2010
Vienna: Negotiations Between the SPÖ and the Greens Almost Concluded
The last major points are budget issues. Both sides are however optimistic of reaching an agreement.
November 5, 2010