by generic
Mon Jan 30th, 2017 at 02:17:31 PM EST
Since Christian Kern has succeeded the chancellorship there have been non stop rumors of early elections. First came the CETA theater where the socialists stated concerns and the conservatives insisted. The only product was a legally non binding document, popularly derided as a "Beipackzettel", the common term for usage advisories packed with medicine. Entirely unrelated there is apopular petition against CETA and TiPP closing today that is expected to give a strong showing.
Still there were voices that insisted that only the delay in the presidential elections stopped Kern's diabolical plans for new elections.
Now the coalition partners have produced a document that is supposed to be the base for the next 18 months. I skimmed through it below the fold.
Frontpaged - Frank Schnittger
by generic
Wed Jun 8th, 2016 at 10:07:22 AM EST
Austria's new chancellor Christian Kern, former manager of the Austrian state railways gave an interview. (behind paywall and German). The only remarkable thing about it is that I actually read this one.
Some points with my comments in brackets:
Frontpaged - Frank Schnittger
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.
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
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.
