#AUSTRIA: New Law Allows Confiscation Of Speeders' Cars

[world politics news]

Austria's parliament has approved legislation that would allow authorities to confiscate the cars of people who are caught driving far above the speed limit. Lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that calls for the cars of people who exceed the speed limit by more than 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) in developed areas or 70 kph (43 mph) outside town limits temporarily confiscated.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#AUSTRIA: High Court Questions Covid Count

[world politics news]

 

There are explosive questions that the Constitutional Court is now asking the Ministry of Health. The supreme judges want to know how justified regulations such as lockdown and the 2G rule were. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein's department has until February 18 to respond.

The Constitutional Court is asking for information as to whether the hospitalization or death numbers given in the ordinance files "include all people infected with SARS-CoV-2 who are housed in hospitals on normal or intensive care units or who are 'on or with' SARSCoV-2 died? If so, why is this counting chosen?"

Meanwhile, the nation's Conservative-Green coalition government lifted the lockdown for the unvaccinated on January 26.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Gov't Will Require mandatory Vaccinations For All; Fine, Jail For Unvaxxed

[world politics news]

Austria is to become the first European country to make vaccinations against Covid 19 mandatory, and will go into its third nationwide lockdown for at least 10 days from Monday, the chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, has announced.

The government said it was preparing the legal groundwork for a general vaccine mandate to come into effect from 1 February, with exemptions for those unable to receive a jab on medical grounds.

Those refusing to be vaccinated are likely to face administrative fines, which can be converted into a prison sentence if the fine cannot be recovered.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz Resigns Amid Corruption Probe

[world politics news]

 

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has stepped down, after pressure triggered by a corruption investigation.

He has proposed Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg as his replacement.

Kurz and nine others were placed under investigation after raids at a number of locations linked to his conservative People's Party (ÖVP), including his own office.

He denies claims he used government money to ensure positive coverage in a tabloid newspaper.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

 

#AUSTRIA: Economy Slumped Worse In 4th Quarter Than Any Other In EU

[world politics news]

In the fourth quarter of the year, from October to December, the Austrian economy shrunk by - 4.3 percent compared to the previous quarter, figures show.

That figure represented a bigger drop in GDP than any other EU economy for which data was available, according to the statistical office of the European Union.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Politicians, Health Officials Can't Convince Many To Take Covid Tests

[world politics news] 

Nearly a month after Austria started mass Covid-19 tests, the masses have stayed away.

Vienna denies the push has been a failure, but weak participation so far mirrors growing doubt in the population towards a looming vaccination program.

Out of a population of 8.8 million people, about two million have been tested to date – with the participation rate dropping as low as 14 per cent in the capital.

A month ago, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz unveiled the program, a nod to a similar one in neighboring Slovakia using fast PCR tests, as the best way to have “as safe a Christmas as possible”.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Gov't Approves Crackdown On "Political Islam" After Terror Attacks

[world politics news] 

The government of Austria has agreed on a wide range of anti-terrorism measures in the wake of a deadly attack in the capital, Vienna, last week.

The proposals include the ability to keep individuals convicted of terror offenses behind bars for life, electronic surveillance of people convicted of terror-related offenses upon release and criminalising religiously motivated and politically extreme acts.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Conservatives And Greens To Form Historic, "Courageous" Governing Coalition

[world politics news]

Austria's conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government with the Greens, ending almost three months of negotiations, a coalition which Kurz said will require "courage."

"We have succeeded to unite the best of both worlds... It is possible to protect the climate and borders," said Kurz, whose People's Party again gained the most votes in snap elections in September.

The polls were triggered after a corruption scandal engulfed Kurz's far-right ally after just 18 months in government together, during which the 33-year-old had carefully cultivated his image as a hardliner on immigration. He will once again become chancellor, the youngest leader of a nation in the world.

One final step remains before the coalition is announced on Jan. 7th. 276 Green Party officials and parliamentarians will decide at the federal congress on Saturday whether the party will be part of the future government.

Pictured: Head of the Austrian People's Party Sebastian Kurz (L) and head of the Green Party Werner Kogler (R)

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Kurz's People's Party Wins Sunday's National Election

[world politics news]

Austria's conservative People's Party, led by former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, has won a clear victory in Sunday's general election.

With nearly all the votes counted, Mr Kurz's party has more than 38% of the vote, up from 31% in the last election.

His former coalition partners, the anti-migration Freedom Party, have received 17.3%, a sharp decline, after a scandal. Still, either they or the Greens could form a coalition with Kurz' party. Long negotiations to form a government now begin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Hofer Elected Head Of Freedom Party

[world politics news]

Austria's anti-immigrant populist party has formally elected Norbert Hofer to lead it into national elections later this month.

Hofer took over the Freedom Party's leadership in May after Heinz-Christian Strache resigned, both as party head and Austrian vice-chancellor, in the wake of a corruption scandal.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: First Woman Chancellor Inaugurated Following Ouster Of Kurz [world politics news]

[world politics news]

Brigitte Bierlein was sworn in today to become. Austria's the first woman chancellor. Pres. Alexander Van der Bellen nominated Bierlein, a constitutional judge, to hold the job until new elections following the ouster of Sebastian Kurz, who lost a no confidence vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz Forced From Office Following Russia Influence Scandal

[world politics news]

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was forced from power Monday when his government lost a parliamentary no-confidence vote, paving the way for a new caretaker administration to take charge ahead of elections expected in September.

The 32-year-old's ouster follows a tumultuous week after a video emerged apparently showing the head of the far-right Freedom Party - Kurz’s coalition partner - offering valuable government contracts to a woman posing as a Russian investor in return for political influence.

Social Democrats were joined in their no confidence vote by the Freedom Party, who feels abandoned by Kurz.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Calls For New Elections After Corruption Scandal

[world politics news]

Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced fresh elections after explosive revelations from a hidden camera sting forced his deputy, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache, to resign, bringing an end to his coalition.

“I have suggested to the president of the republic that new elections be carried out, at the earliest possible date,” said Kurz.

Media reports emerged on Friday alleging that Strache promised public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer he met on the island of Ibiza a few months before 2017’s parliamentary elections in Austria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Interior Minister Warns Of "Massive New Migration Wave" If Action Isn't Taken By EU

[world politics news]

Austrian interior minister Herbert Kickl has written to the European Union, warning of a renewed migrant crisis and calling for immediate preventative measures to be taken. In the letter, published by the Krone newspaper, Kickl cited figures from European Union law enforcement agency Europol suggesting that a “large-scale movement of people from Turkey to Europe” is about to take place.

There are presently “tens of thousands” of migrants in these areas already, including about 5,000 each in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, as well as about 60,000 asylum seekers in Greece, and about 5.6 million Syrian refugees in the Middle East, according to Kickl, who said there is "a clear potential for a massive new migration wave if action is not taken quickly."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: President, In Palestine, Says Austria Would "Never" Relocate Israeli Embassy To Jerusalem

[world politics news]

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen yesterday criticized the relocation of US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, stressing his country would never follow suit. Van der Bellen made the remarks during a press conference held with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Van der Bellen is the ceremonial head of state of Austria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Arrest Of Accused Russian Spy Strains Relations Between The Two Allies

[world politics news]

The arrest of a suspected Russian spy in Austria has caused a rare diplomatic dust-up between Austria and Russia. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said a probe had been launched into a colonel suspected of spying for Russia for several decades. Russia says Austria's "unfounded accusations" in a spy scandal were unacceptable, after the suspect in the case was taken into custody. Russia has strong ties with Austria, one of its few European allies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Months After Leaving Politics After "Holocaust/Nazi Songbook" Controversy, Udo Landbauer Quietly Returns

[world politics news]

After nearly a seven month absence after a "songbook" of neo-Nazi songs his fraternity composed came to light, forcing him to leave politics, Lower Austrian Freedom Party official Udo Landbauer has quietly returned to politics. He is set to take over the position of the club president of the Freedom Party in the Lower Austrian parliament. The return comes at the behest, and support, of Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, who called on Landbauer to be "fully rehabilitated. However, Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, a member of the Austrian People's Party, had made it clear that she will not work together with Landbauer. In January, Landbauer was forced to leave politics after lyrics celebrating the Holocaust and Nazism were found in a songbook created by a fraternity in which he was deputy chairman.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRIA: Regional Animal Welfare Minister Suggests "Registering Jews" Who Want To Kill Animals For Kosher Food - Gov't Rejects Idea

[world politics news]

A regional politician's plan that would have allowed Jews to buy kosher meat only if they were officially registered and granted a special permit has been quickly shot down by Federal officials. The Minister for Animal Welfare in the state of Lower Austria, Gottfried Waldhausl, said it was an attempt to reduce the amount of animals ritually slaughtered every year. Government spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal said Austria would "protect the freedoms and fundamental rights of our Jewish fellow citizens." And tweeted, "The Federal Government rejects any form of personal registration in connection with the purchase of kosher meat, such an idea is out of question."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Gov't Will Dissolve Seven "Political" Mosques And Deport 60 Imams And Their Families

[world politics news]

Austria's chancellors says the country could expel up to 60 Turkish-funded imams and their families and would shut down seven mosques as part of a crackdown on 'political Islam' that was described as 'just the beginning', triggering fury in Ankara. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the government is shutting a hardline Turkish nationalist mosque in Vienna and dissolving a group called the Arab Religious Community that runs six mosques. .

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz's Center-Right Coalition Seeks Ban On Pre-Teen Muslim Girls Wearing Headscarves

[world politics news]

The center-right coalition government of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wants to ban girls in kindergarten and primary schools from wearing headscarves. It's unclear how many children will be affected as most Muslim girls only start wearing the hijab from puberty.

[FULL STORY HERE]