Austria says stabbing attack suspect swore allegiance to Islamic State
Villach, Austria Reuters The Syrian asylum seeker suspected of carrying out a deadly stabbing rampage in the Austrian town of Villach had sworn allegiance to Islamic State and was radicalised online, authorities said on Sunday. A 14-year-old boy was killed in Saturday afternoon’s attack in the centre of Villach and five other people were wounded, […]
Attempt to form Austria’s first government led by far right collapses
Vienna, Austria Reuters Talks to form Austria’s first coalition government led by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Wednesday, days after the FPO’s negotiations with the conservative People’s Party (OVP) ground to a halt, with each side blaming the other. The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO was bidding to head a government for the first time […]
Austrian national broadcaster’s reporters say far right wants to destroy it
Vienna, Austria Reuters The body representing the reporters of Austrian national broadcaster ORF said on Friday the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) is trying to destroy it, raising pressure on conservatives to push back in coalition talks with the FPO. The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO came first in September’s parliamentary election with 29 per cent of the […]
Austria’s far-right led coalition talks set to begin, thousands protest
Vienna, Austria Reuters Talks to form a coalition government led by Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) will begin on Friday, the party said on Thursday, as thousands protested in Vienna against the prospect of the country’s first FPO-led government. The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO won September’s parliamentary election with around 29 per cent of the vote […]
Austrian President tasks far-right leader with forming government
Vienna, Austria Reuters Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) on Monday with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed unexpectedly over the weekend. The announcement marks a dramatic reversal for the president, a former leader of the left-wing […]
Austrian Chancellor quits as coalition talks collapse
Vienna, Austria Reuters Talks between Austria’s two main centrist parties on forming a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) collapsed on Saturday, prompting conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer to announce he would step down. A day earlier a third party, the liberal Neos, walked away from the talks, blaming the other parties for failing […]
European countries put Syrian asylum bids on hold after Assad’s fall
Berlin, Germany Reuters European countries put asylum applications from Syrians on hold until further notice on Monday after rebels seized the Syrian capital and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war. The decision, which affects tens of thousands of open claims, reflects the rapidly changing political situation in Syria as […]
Austrian President asks top parties to break coalition “stalemate”
Vienna, Austria Reuters Austria’s president said on Wednesday he could not task the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) with forming a government after it won a general election because no party wants to govern with it, so instead it and the next two largest parties should try to break the “stalemate” themselves. The FPO won the […]
Austria’s President takes charge as far right isolated after election victory
Vienna, Austria Reuters The far-right Freedom Party’s historic victory in an Austrian parliamentary election has left it isolated and partly at the mercy of a powerful critic: the President, who must oversee efforts towards forming a viable coalition government. The Eurosceptic, Russia-friendly Freedom Party (FPO) won for the first time, but its 29 per cent […]
Austria’s rightward shift puts immigration in crosshairs
Vienna, Austria Reuters Picknicking with friends in the park after prayers at a Vienna mosque, Saima Arab, a 20-year-old pedicurist originally from Afghanistan, is thankful for her freedoms in Austria. “We could never do this in Afghanistan, never cook, go out, just sit in public like this”, said Arab, who came to Austria in 2017. […]