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

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

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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

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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: 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

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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: 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: "Axis Of The Willing" Formed By Germany, Austria, Italy Against Illegal Immigration

[world politics news]

The interior ministers of Austria, Germany and Italy have formed an "axis of the willing" to combat illegal immigration, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz made the announcement in Berlin, escalating a Europe-wide conflict over the issue. The involvement of German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer will be seen as a shot across the bow at Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is trying to pull together a deal for EU cooperation on allowing more asylum seekers into Germany. Seehofer has given Chancellor Angela Merkel a two-week ultimatum to stem the flow of migrants, an issue threatening the stability of her coalition government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

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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

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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]

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz Stands With Hungarian PM Against EU Immigration Quotas

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The EU migrant redistribution scheme "isn't working," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said while welcoming Hungary's Viktor Orban in Vienna. The two leaders called for opposition to illegal migration to Europe. At the same time,  Austria should work to ease tensions between western and the eastern EU members, Kurz said in Vienna at a joint press conference.

[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: Foreign Min/Integration Min. Kurz Says He "Understands" Need For US/Mexico Wall

[world politics news]

Austria’s Foreign and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz has said that in principle he understands why Pres. Donald Trump has promised to build a wall between the US and Mexico."So far every American president has tried to regulate migration to the US, and every other country in the world is also trying to control migration and not to allow it to continue uncontrolled," Kurz told the Austria Press Agency.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Foreign Min. Seeks Continued "Freeze" In EU Membership Talks With Turkey

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Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is set to continue his pursuit of a freeze in the EU’s membership process with Turkey, which is likely to remain "frozen" by the EU Parliament. Kurz also says he is also eager for Austria to act as a bridge between the West and Russia.

#AUSTRIA: Foreign Min. Backs UK PM #DavidCameron's Changes To EU Welfare Benefits

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Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz plans to back British Prime Minister David Cameron's proposed changes to child support benefits EU-wide and wants to go even further by implementing the suggestions immediately in Austria.

#AUSTRIA: Foreign Min. Kurz Criticizes Saudi Human Rights Record; Response To Refugees, During Visit

[world politics news]

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has criticized Saudi Arabia over its human rights record during a visit to the kingdom. He urged the Saudis to create more opportunities for the relocation of the Syrian refugees and took them to task for violations of women's rights and extreme punishments under Sharia Law.