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Author Topic: Austrian Elections & Politics 4.0  (Read 163333 times)
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CrabCake
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« Reply #150 on: December 02, 2017, 01:23:58 PM »

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.

That's probably easy to make constitutional though. Just remove the "migrant parents" part and that's it. Applying it to all Austrians wouldn't be an issue. Let's be honest, the amount of Austrians without any migration background doing that is almost certainly 0.

Orthodox Jews I guess? Round London where I grew up, there are a fair amount of Haredis who own propetry, and there is a lot of grumbling that they refuse to acknowledged local women (and a rather surprising amount of anti-Semitism - which surprised me because I'm a naive idiot who thought such things were unheard of in areas like mine).
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Tender Branson
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« Reply #151 on: December 02, 2017, 03:05:15 PM »

Here are 4 of the 5 delegations represented in the new parliament (ÖVP is missing):







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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #152 on: December 03, 2017, 03:16:39 AM »

The "Kurier" has a new OGM poll for Vienna today, which shows the Red-Green city government would be voted out of office with a combined 38% + 8% for NEOS (46%) - while FPÖ/ÖVP would get a combined 49%.

Currently, the SPÖ is preparing the exit of Mayor Michael Häupl - who will retire early next year after a quarter century in office. Andreas Schieder, the SPÖ's parliamentary club leader in the previous term and Michael Ludwig, current Vienna city councillor for housing, are the most likely successors.

The Greens are in big trouble as well (I have recently reported on their crisis convention, in which Green-leader Maria Vassilakou limped on as leader into next year). The poll also shows that Vienna voters have lost every faith in Vassilakou to properly lead the Greens by a 12-65 margin, with even Green voters agreeing.

Peter Pilz's List is listed among "others" and is having a hard time now with his allegations of sexual misconduct.



https://kurier.at/politik/inland/ogm-umfrage-oevp-fpoe-in-wien-stark-wie-noch-nie/300.497.420
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #153 on: December 03, 2017, 10:52:13 AM »

I just read that the "EU Exit Party" filed an election challenge at the Constitutional Court this week, just ahead of the November 28 deadline for challenges ...
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #154 on: December 03, 2017, 11:23:12 AM »

The ÖVP+FPÖ coalition talks are heading into the final 2 weeks before the targeted inauguration on December 20.

The "Standard" has an article today about direct democracy talks - which remain as one of the big hurdles.

I have already posted how the FPÖ wants to initiate referendums if 4% of eligible voters sign a petition drive, while the ÖVP favours a 10% threshold.

The new article today also mentions that the FPÖ wants to consult the Constitutional Court after each successful petition drive, so that they can check if the matter is even suitable for a referendum and in line with EU laws and the Austrian Constitution, before sending it to voters.

The article also mentions that 2 top negotiators from the FPÖ and ÖVP recently travelled to Switzerland to see which measures Austria can adopt from this system.

The FPÖ negotiator apparently told the APA (Austrian Press Agency) that the FPÖ potentially also would like voters to vote on an Auxit (or Öxit in German), because it is outlined in the EU membership contract that an exit would be legal if requested by a country. The ÖVP is totally opposed to this idea. The FPÖ negotiator said that the Auxit matter is only theoretical and that it is not on the FPÖ's agenda right now.



Also, the support of NEOS would be needed to change the constitution with a 2/3 majority to advance a direct democracy system. While NEOS is not opposed to more direct democracy, they also say that an Auxit should only be initiated by parliament and not by referendum (and NEOS is clearly against an Auxit). Also, NEOS favours a 1-year "cooldown" period after each successful petition drive before handing the issue to voters in a referendum.

As you can see, there are still some big talks ahead on these issues between ÖVP and FPÖ. Not that the talks will eventually fail because of these big topics, but the final result could be a shady compromise and an actual direct democracy system will likely never emerge ...

http://derstandard.at/2000068951991/Direkte-Demokratie-OeVP-und-FPOe-uneins-ueber-Volksabstimmungen-zu-EU
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #155 on: December 05, 2017, 06:26:37 AM »

The Constitutional Court has legalized gay marriage today, effective 2019:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/austria-same-sex-gay-marriage-legal-constitutional-court-lgbt-rights-start-date-couples-a8092516.html
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #156 on: December 05, 2017, 11:39:15 AM »

The List "Pilz" has decided not to run in the January 28 state election in Lower Austria, because the election is taking place too early for them to set up structures there.

Good news for the Remnant-Greens there, but it's still pretty hard for them right now to remain in the state parliament. One thing that helps them is the fact that Lower Austria has a 4% threshold, rather than a 5% threshold like the other three states that will have state elections early next year.

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/liste-pilz-tritt-in-wien-an/300.841.049

But they intend to run in the other state elections next year and in Vienna 2020 - maybe with a rehabilitated Peter Pilz.
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #157 on: December 05, 2017, 12:30:38 PM »

A list of potential (or already decided ?) candidates for cabinet posts has leaked to the ORF:

The Ö24 graphic is slightly wrong, because Barbara Kolm is from the FPÖ, while Christine Haberlander is from the ÖVP. Karin Kneissl is actually independent.



According to this list, Strache might become Vice-Chancellor and Defense Minister.

Kurz is said to favour 50/50 men and women.
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #158 on: December 05, 2017, 03:34:09 PM »

Another press statement by ÖVP+FPÖ is planned for tomorrow:

http://derstandard.at/2000069427544/Koalitionsverhandler-druecken-auf-die-Tube

It's probably the final week(end) for the talks. On Sunday, we could have a new government in place if the agree on the final issues until then.

Next Monday/Tuesday could be used to agree on cabinet posts and for President Van der Bellen to talk with future cabinet members for him to get a first impression.

Then the swearing in.

If the matter is more complex, we could see a swearing-in during the week before Christmas.
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catmando
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« Reply #159 on: December 06, 2017, 12:37:59 AM »

Austria's electoral process, and subsequent outcomes, are fascinating to watch.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #160 on: December 06, 2017, 02:54:56 AM »

Austria's electoral process, and subsequent outcomes, are fascinating to watch.

...what?
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #161 on: December 06, 2017, 06:29:50 AM »

Austria's electoral process, and subsequent outcomes, are fascinating to watch.

That's correct.
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Tender Branson
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« Reply #162 on: December 06, 2017, 06:31:04 AM »

Looks like the coalition talks are almost completed, because Kurz and Strache met with VdB:

http://mobil.krone.at/602307
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #163 on: December 06, 2017, 12:13:18 PM »

ÖVP/FPÖ presented their (IMO idiotic) plans today to increase max. daily working hours to 12 hours, or 60 hours per week (with only 8 hours of resting time between work days) to enable more flexibility for companies.

This is a main reason why I voted for Kern and the SPÖ, because nobody really wants to work 60 hours a week. People over companies, or at least leave the current 40-hour work week in place.

http://orf.at/stories/2417880
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #164 on: December 06, 2017, 03:37:06 PM »

ÖVP/FPÖ presented their (IMO idiotic) plans today to increase max. daily working hours to 12 hours, or 60 hours per week (with only 8 hours of resting time between work days) to enable more flexibility for companies.

This is a main reason why I voted for Kern and the SPÖ, because nobody really wants to work 60 hours a week. People over companies, or at least leave the current 40-hour work week in place.

http://orf.at/stories/2417880

Comments on Strache/FPÖ's Facebook page turned very negative today:

Link

Interesting to see how the FPÖ screws over their working-class base.
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Omega21
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« Reply #165 on: December 06, 2017, 05:14:39 PM »

ÖVP/FPÖ presented their (IMO idiotic) plans today to increase max. daily working hours to 12 hours, or 60 hours per week (with only 8 hours of resting time between work days) to enable more flexibility for companies.

This is a main reason why I voted for Kern and the SPÖ, because nobody really wants to work 60 hours a week. People over companies, or at least leave the current 40-hour work week in place.

http://orf.at/stories/2417880

Why would the FPÖ agree on something like this? This is a very effective move to sh*t on all of the support the new coalition has gotten.
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #166 on: December 08, 2017, 02:32:57 AM »

ÖVP/FPÖ presented their (IMO idiotic) plans today to increase max. daily working hours to 12 hours, or 60 hours per week (with only 8 hours of resting time between work days) to enable more flexibility for companies.

This is a main reason why I voted for Kern and the SPÖ, because nobody really wants to work 60 hours a week. People over companies, or at least leave the current 40-hour work week in place.

http://orf.at/stories/2417880

Why would the FPÖ agree on something like this? This is a very effective move to sh*t on all of the support the new coalition has gotten.

It's very odd. The FPÖ styles itself as the new "Labour Party" for workers, but then agrees to measures that are often not really beneficial for workers and good for employers. Yet the FPÖ isn't really under the pressure like the ÖVP is from the business sector: remember that companies such as KTM (the Austrian motorbike company) donated huge sums to Kurz's campaign and of course these companies want some return after the election in the form of work flexibility measures. The FPÖ on the other hand got zero donations from people and from companies, saying they won't accept them in the first place (the FPÖ has enough money from public financing anyway). So it's odd that they would give in to big business demands. It probably has to do with the fact that the FPÖ needs to score some compromise deals with the ÖVP, for example if they want to get the Interior Ministry.

Anyway, back to the issue of work-day flexibility which ÖVP-FPÖ agreed on. After the bad comments on Strache's and the FPÖ's Facebook/Twitter pages by their voters (and opposition bots), Strache had to come out in defense for the new measures. He said that nobody will be forced to work 60 hours a week under the new plans and that the general 40 hour week will of course be left in place. The top-up hours are only voluntary for employees who want to work longer hours, but get an extra day off - for example to take a long 3-day weekend off from work. Still, experts say that the new measures open the door for more precarious work conditions, since employers could be "bullied" into longer hours by their bosses - especially if the companies are not fully unionized with a union representative present at the company (51% of companies have no union representative present at the company offices to agree on the new measures).

http://derstandard.at/2000069786721/Bis-zu-zwoelf-Stunden-arbeiten-Was-die-tuerkis-blaue-Einigung
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #167 on: December 08, 2017, 02:44:22 AM »

If the FPÖ gets any dent from their support for work-day-flexibility, it has yet to show up in future polls ... Here is the new Research Affairs poll and support for ÖVP/FPÖ remains very strong:



The poll was conducted between Dec. 4-6 and it also shows strong support for the coalition:

By a 54-32 margin, voters approve of the new ÖVP/FPÖ coalition.

78% of voters also want tax cuts to start already next year and 79% want more referendums/direct democracy.

http://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/78-wollen-Steuerreform-schon-2018/311995513
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #168 on: December 08, 2017, 04:56:26 AM »

More economic news:

STATISTIK Austria has recently relased the state economic data for 2016 and on the regional levels such as districts for 2015.

For the first time, Vienna is no longer the state with the highest GDP per capita - because Salzburg has overtaken it.

Austria's GDP per capita was 40.400€ last year (Salzburg: 48.700€, Vienna: 48.600€)

Salzburg also had the highest GDP growth rate last year (+2.5% vs. +1.5% in Austria as a whole).



---

Also, the Pinzgau/Pongau region (where I live) for the first time has a GDP per capita above the Austrian average. According to the new 2015 data, the Austrian average was 39.900€ and here it was 40.200€ - back in 2000, the Austrian average was 26.700€ and for Pinzgau/Pongau it was only 24.500€:



The region with the highest GDP per capita was Salzburg City + suburbs at 51.700€ per capita, while the region with the lowest was the Weinviertel at 21.100€ per capita.

Between 2000 and 2015, the GDP per capita increased by 49% in Austria.

The region with the highest increase was Bludenz-Bregenzerwald (+84%), while Vienna had the lowest growth (+30%).

In other words: While Bludenz-Bregenzerwald had only 98% of Austria's GDP per capita in 2000, it had 121% in 2015. On the other hand, Vienna dropped from 139% to 121%.

http://www.statistik.at/web_en/press/115283.html
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #169 on: December 08, 2017, 07:22:04 AM »

On Sunday:

Runoff for Salzburg City Mayor (by-election) between Harald Preuner (ÖVP, left) and Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ, right).



A 50-50 race is expected. Polls close at 4pm.
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #170 on: December 09, 2017, 03:32:42 AM »

The likely final weekend of ÖVP/FPÖ coalition talks !

Unless some tough issues are to be debated next weekend (or the allocation of cabinet posts between the parties), the coalition should be finalized by Friday.

Here's the new Research Affairs poll, showing how the public would rate a selection of likely future cabinet members (Norbert Hofer and H.C. Strache would get the highest approval from voters):



It also looks like there will be a compromise on the issue of smoking bans in restaurants: the current regulation with owners setting up smoking and non-smoking areas will likely remain in place - rather than a full smoking ban that is forced on them, but the FPÖ will instead agree to a better youth health safety plan on smoking and alcohol and more sports.
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Tender Branson
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« Reply #171 on: December 10, 2017, 02:18:57 AM »

There's another "open-end" coalition talk round today, starting in the afternoon and it will probably last until 3am in the morning, just like the one on Friday.

The "Presse" newspaper reports that the FPÖ will get up to 6 cabinet posts (among them the Interior Ministry, which is responsible for the police, foreigners, asylum, deportations, anti-terror and crime). Other cabinet posts for the FPÖ include Defense and Homeland Security, the Foreign Ministry, the Social Issues Ministry and Infrastructure/Transport/R&D and Innovation.

Ministries are also likely to be re-shuffled in some sort, for example that Kurz will take the EU/European policy areas with him to the Chancellor office. Some might be merged, such as social issues and family issues/youth.

There could also be a new post called "Cabinet Speaker", like Merkel already has. A post also similar to Huckabee-Sanders in the US.

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5335727/Koalitionsverhandlungen_Sechs-Ministerien-fuer-FPOe-wahrscheinlich
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #172 on: December 10, 2017, 02:33:02 AM »

Strache (FPÖ) in an interview:

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Strache also calls the likely new Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl a "new Bruno Kreisky", the former powerful Social-Democratic Chancellor who engaged himself a lot in the 1970s to negotiate between Israelis and Arabs.
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DavidB.
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« Reply #173 on: December 10, 2017, 07:00:07 AM »

Kreisky was really anti-Israel, right? Hope Kneissl wouldn't be similar in that regard... Who is she, and what is her background?
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Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
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« Reply #174 on: December 10, 2017, 12:30:52 PM »

On Sunday:

Runoff for Salzburg City Mayor (by-election) between Harald Preuner (ÖVP, left) and Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ, right).



A 50-50 race is expected. Polls close at 4pm.

It's an exact 50-50 race !

Without postal ballots, Preuner leads 50.6 to 49.4, but the postal ballots are leaning SPÖ+Green according to round 1, so this will come down to a handful of votes.

The postal ballots should be counted in the next 2 hours.
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