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10. 03. 10. - 11:00

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10. 03. 10. - 11:00

Wide support for bank tax plans

More than four in ten support the idea of a "bank tax", an Austrian Times opinion poll shows.

Forty-two per cent of Austrian Times readers taking part in the online newspaper’s most recent poll said "banks are responsible for the crisis and should contribute their part".

The Austrian government coalition formed by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) recently agreed on a so-called bank solidarity tax which it hoped would bring around 500 million Euros per year.

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann said a task force of around 15 members will be formed shortly to discuss details of the new tax.

Twenty per cent of people voting in the poll however oppose the idea calling it "populist and immature".

Twenty-three per cent meanwhile claimed that the new ruling would not make a difference. "Bankers don’t learn their lesson anyway," they said.

And 13.8 per cent admitted they were not sure about the issue.

The SPÖ-ÖVP’s coalition’s "bank solidarity tax" will be just one part of drastic measures to reduce the state’s budget deficit over the next few years.

The government yesterday (Tues) revealed it planned to spend 1.7 billion Euros less next year. ÖVP Finance Minister Josef Pröll said the plan was to take an additional 1.7 billion Euros in taxes at the same time.

He said the plan was to reduce the budget deficit to 2.7 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) until 2013 by cutting down on spending and subsidy activities instead of introducing new taxes apart from the bank tax to match the EU’s Eurozone Maastricht criteria of three per cent.

Austria’s 2009 budget deficit reached 3.5 per cent after just 0.4 per cent in the previous year. A main aspect of extra expenses the coalition agreed to carry out last year was paying around six billion Euros to several Austrian banks affected by the global economic crisis.

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The new Austrian Times poll wants to know whether you think the presidential candidacy of Barbara Rosenkranz could harm the reputation of Austria?

The Freedom Party (MP) has failed to make clear statements on Nazi crimes and the existence of gas chambers in WWII death camps, before earlier this week holding a press conference in which she pledged disassociation from all Nazi ideology.

Take part in the poll to give your opinion!

Austrian Times

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Felderer 'disappointed' as government eyes up tax hikes
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Satek snatches Zielpunkt
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Europe's highest brewery in Austria
Europe’s highest brewery has opened in Austria. The "Asitz Bräu" which opened for business on 17 December last year, is located at 1,760 metres and is run by the Altenberger family, owners of four star hotel "Der Krallerhof" in Leogang.

Austria registers decrease of business bankruptcies
The number of Austrian business bankruptcies is in decline despite increasingly difficult economic circumstances in Europe.

Austria registers decrease of business bankruptcies
The number of Austrian business bankruptcies is in decline despite increasingly difficult economic circumstances in Europe.