Austrian Elections & Politics 4.0

[Hnv1]

ÖVP/FPÖ have made more progress, with Kurz and Strache announcing a new "digital agenda" for Austria in a press statement today:



http://derstandard.at/2000068317135-1602/OeVP-und-FPOe-wollen-Steuerflucht-von-Web-Firmen-unterbinden

* Every citizen and company can set up a super-secure digital account (similar to the Estonian model), which will make it much easier to found a company and deal with local authorities (for example if you need a birth certificate etc.) Citizens can also have access 24/7/365 to their passports, personal ID cards, health card, driver licence etc. in digital form anywhere on the planet via an app. Strache said this will help beat bureaucracy and make Austria one of the leading and business-friendly e-government nations.

* make Austria a leader in 5G-network coverage, with big investments into new network infrastructure (= fastest internet even in rural areas).

* digital in-country tax requirement for large international companies such as Google, Amazon etc.: the plan is to require these companies to register an Austrian headquarter, which forces them to pay taxes here if they do business. Currently, big companies almost pay nothing here.

* creation of a national digital education platform, in which every citizen can educate themselves on various topics. Universities, economic groups etc. will be used as partners.

Finally, Kurz+Strache said: "We want to make it better than Germany." (= a broadside against Merkel and the failing talks there.)

Will the new digital account me mandatory? Or opt out/pot in?
Would it require fingerprints for identification?

[Hnv1]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

[Hnv1]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

Child benefit are meant for children, taking them away due to misconduct by parents is punishing by proxy and hurtful to right of self-respect as Germanic courts tend to interpret it (not using someone as means).

We had a similar case here a decade ago where Bedouin refused to give their children vaccinations and they wanted to cut down on their benefits, but it was deemed unconstitutional

[Hnv1]

The Israeli right-wing government will apparently semi-boycott the new Austrian right-wing government:

They are planning to only talk to (or invite) ÖVP cabinet members, but neglecting the FPÖ-members (incl. the FPÖ-appointed, but independent Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl - who actually grew up and studied in Israel and Jordan).

It's not an ideological move. Frau Kneissl had the audacity to criticize Bibi and his personal defects from his brother's death in the past. That's an intensive soft spot for him.