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Austrian Election 2008: A Supplemental

by generic
Mon Sep 8th, 2008 at 11:30:31 AM EST

See nanne's election diary for the general background. Here I try to provide additional information about the causes of the downfall of Alfred Gusenbauer's government and the historic relationship of SPÖ and Krone.

Read more... (7 comments, 945 words in story)

A new reason for privatisation: Saving Social Security - Austrian Edition

by generic
Thu May 22nd, 2008 at 05:08:01 AM EST

Conservatives in both Greece and Austria seem to have found a new rationale for privatizing public assets.

talos:

When Austria's finance minister announces plans to privatize the railways and build a social security fund with the proceeds...
Ah, Austria too? The Greek PM said words to the same effect (not limited to the railways). They're on a selling spree which they aim to portray as a way to keep the SS system out of trouble (they're meeting unexpected resistance too, but that's a diary of its own). Do EU governments have the same political advisors or what?

I'd very much appreciate information whether parties in other European countries also have explicitly linked privatisation with financing social services.

Below is a short summary of the plans of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the reactions of the other parties.

Are the 'reformists' becoming desperate, or just even more cynical? Diary promoted with minor edits by DoDo

Read more... (15 comments, 969 words in story)

LQD: The drums of war are deafening

by generic
Tue Mar 25th, 2008 at 12:29:32 PM EST

If the Bushists wanted to sell a war with Iran would it look something like this?
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran 'behind Green Zone attack'
The most senior US general in Iraq has said he has evidence that Iran was behind Sunday's bombardment of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

While the campaign isn't particularly successful it increasingly looks like Bush doesn't care.

Read more... (60 comments, 368 words in story)

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