#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: 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: Freedom Party Blocks Looming 2018 Smoking Ban In Hotels, Restaurants

[world politics news]

Austria’s Freedom Party has announced that a planned ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants that was due to come into force in 2018 will be scrapped. Party chief Heinz-Christian Strache said the reversal was agreed in ongoing talks to form a coalition with the conservative People’s Party following elections in October.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Conservatives Win Majority, Sebastian Kurz, 31, Set To Be World's Youngest Leader

[world politics news]

Austria's conservative People's Party, led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is set to win the country's general election, projections suggest. Kurz is on course to become the world's youngest national leader. The People's Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second. Short of a majority, Kurz's party could seek an alliance with the anti-immigration Freedom Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Constitution Changed To Force Cities To Accept Migrants

[world politics news]

Austria's upper house has changed the constitution to force local authorities to accept a quota of migrants equal to 1.5 percent of their population. Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats and the center-right People's Party, which form Austria's governing coalition, pushed the measure through. The anti-immigrant Freedom Party, which leads national opinion polls, opposed the move.