• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Cats
• Vienna - Andy Warhol
• Vienna - Laser Tag

© ÖVP

01. 12. 09. - 13:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

01. 12. 09. - 13:00

ÖVP in the lead one year on from coalition taking power

Analysis by Thomas Hochwarter

Opinions vary on the government’s achievements one year after the SPÖ and ÖVP formed a coalition.

Political analysts say the coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) which was sworn in on 2 December has done a decent job combating the effects the global economic crisis has had on Austria.

The government introduced two stimulus packages focusing on the bank sector and a tax reform which, according to ÖVP Finance Minister Josef Pröll, was a successful bid to unburden those with lower incomes.

But constitutional reform – regarded by economic experts as a crucial move to cut costs in the public sector – is still on the coalition’s to-do list.

Another key issue yet to be dealt with is the situation in the country’s universities – overcrowding and bad standards of education – as highlighted by student protests.

The conservative ÖVP, whose former leader Wilhelm Molterer called for early general elections in summer 2008 after he claimed it was impossible to cooperate with the SPÖ any longer, seem to be doing well since the vote in September 2008.

The party headed by Josef Pröll won four of the seven various elections which have taken place since the general elections.

The SPÖ meanwhile suffered losses in all of the elections it ran in since Werner Faymann replaced Alfred Gusenbauer as party leader. A historic low was reached in September’s Upper Austrian vote where the Social Democrats suffered their most drastic losses since World War Two (minus 13.4 per cent).

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann – who has faced criticism from within the party for giving in to coalition partners ÖVP too easily over various issues – said he was satisfied with the SPÖ-ÖVP coalition’s first year in office.

Asked by political magazine profil to choose a headline for an article on the government’s work so far, he said he would go for "Less arguments – more achievements".

Pollsters however found only 20 per cent of Austrians would opt for Faymann as Chancellor if they had the chance to do so in a direct vote, while 25 per cent said they would vote for ÖVP Vice Chancellor Pröll.

Wolfgang Bachmayer, head of public research agency OGM, said the ÖVP would benefit from the SPÖ’s weaknesses and failures. He explained the SPÖ would – as Social Democrats everywhere in Europe – have problems answering challenges of today.

Bachmayer said the SPÖ had become a "conservative party" over the years, adding: "In contrast to his predecessor Wilhelm Molterer, Erwin Pröll managed to benefit from being Finance Minister (in the economic crisis)."

Austrian Times

Related articles: comments

1. An encounter with Vienna police

   » Panorama 2010-05-05

   Comment by Austrian Times reader Lionel Di Giacomo

2. Fasching festival's firework of fun turns into a damp squib

   » Panorama 2010-02-15

   Anybody looking to have a good time with children in Austria would be well advised to avoid anything involving this organisation www.wien.kinderfreunde.at.

3. FPÖ candidate will boost Fischer bid

   » Panorama 2010-01-19

   President Heinz Fischer’s bid for a second term in office will benefit if the Freedom Party (FPÖ) decides to nominate a candidate.

more related articles tagged "comments"

Turks flattened by lone asylum seeker
A furious Nigerian went on the rampage at a refuge for asylum seekers in Leibnitz, attacking several people and damaging property.

Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

New Dany Boon comedy to be filmed in Austria
The French film star Dany Boon, one of the highest paid actors in Europe after his hit film "Welcome to the Sticks", is filming in Salzburg.

China meets Hallstatt
After a long time of speculation and anticipation the exact copy of Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt-Dachstein in China will be unveiled, and there will be real-life Austrians present for the ceremony.

Skier in court after accident
A man from Graz is in court today accused of having inflicted negligent injury upon a five-year-old when skiing in Carinthia last year.

Two fires in Ottakring claim one life
Two fires started on Thursday evening in the Vienna district of Ottakring, one of which claimed a man’s life. Several people were evacuated as a result of the two blazes.

Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.

Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.

Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.

Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.

Jobs in Austria