FPÖ-ÖVP negotiations set to resume amid ongoing disputes
Far-right FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl confirmed on Thursday that coalition negotiations with the centre-right ÖVP will continue “as soon as possible,” following a meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Talks had stalled over disagreements on ministerial posts and key policies, including taxation, foreign policy, and media regulations, according to ORF.
The FPÖ insists on controlling the Interior and Finance Ministries, a demand the ÖVP has resisted. Reports suggested the ÖVP had sent a counterproposal, but the FPÖ denied receiving it. Fiscal Council President Christoph Badelt urged a swift resolution, warning that Austria’s economic challenges require immediate government action.
Austrian scientists warn against FPÖ-led government
More than a thousand Austrian scientists have signed an open letter warning that an FPÖ-led government could threaten democratic values, human rights, and academic freedom.
The appeal, addressed to political parties, calls for a commitment to democracy, an open society, and the protection of scientific research, according to ORF.
The letter criticises the FPÖ’s stance on scientific funding and its push for “Germanisation” of academic terminology, which researchers argue would weaken Austria’s position in the international academic community. Among the signatories are current university leaders and renowned scientists, including Scientist of the Year awardees Franz Essl and Sigrid Stagl.
No rise in ‘cannabis tourism’ after Germany’s legalisation
Fears that Germany’s cannabis legalisation would lead to increased drug use in Austria have not materialised, according to addiction experts.
Since April 2024, adults in Germany can legally access cannabis under strict conditions, but no significant behavioural changes have been observed near the Austrian border, ORF reported.
Experts attribute this to Germany’s tight restrictions, which limit access to registered association members over 18. High penalties for smuggling cannabis into Austria also act as a deterrent. However, addiction specialists continue to warn against cannabis use and the trivialisation of legal CBD products.
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SPÖ and FPÖ dominate Vienna election campaign on social media
With 80 days until Vienna’s municipal elections, political campaigning has shifted online, with the SPÖ and FPÖ leading in social media engagement.
According to market research firm BuzzValue, the SPÖ has recorded over 900,000 interactions in the past year, significantly outpacing the FPÖ’s 300,000, ORF reported.
While the FPÖ has a strong national social media presence, it struggles to match the SPÖ in Vienna, where Mayor Michael Ludwig’s campaign is highly personalised. Facebook remains the most influential platform, particularly among older voters, while Instagram and TikTok are key for engaging younger audiences. Experts predict intensifying online efforts in the final weeks before the April 27th election.
Vienna expands paediatric primary care with new centre
Vienna has opened its eighth paediatric primary care centre in Währing, aiming to ease pressure on hospital outpatient clinics and improve child healthcare access.
The new facility, staffed by four paediatricians, offers extended opening hours, including Saturdays, ORF reported.
The city now hosts eight such centres across several districts, alongside two paediatric outpatient clinics. Vienna’s government supports each centre with €165,000 annually, and a ninth location is planned for Alsergrund later this year.
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Tyrol authorises wolf shooting after sightings in residential areas
The Tyrolean state government has issued a decree allowing the shooting of a wolf after multiple sightings in residential areas of Sillian and Heinfels.
The decision follows the discovery of a roe deer carcass near a house, raising concerns among locals, Die Presse reported.
The order, effective from midnight for eight weeks, aims to address fears that wolves have lost their natural fear of humans. Deputy Governor Josef Geisler (ÖVP) defended the measure as “unavoidable.” Last year, Tyrol issued 14 similar decrees, resulting in the shooting of two high-risk wolves.
Vienna announces high-rise ban in city centre ahead of elections
The City of Vienna has pledged to reinstate a high-rise building ban in the historic city centre, a move aimed at addressing UNESCO’s concerns over its World Heritage status.
The decision, set for an April municipal council resolution, comes ahead of the Vienna elections on April 27th, Die Presse reported.
The ban, in place from 2006 to 2014, is expected to impact the controversial Heumarkt redevelopment project, which has kept Vienna on UNESCO’s “Red List” since 2017. While the city has not explicitly linked the ban to Heumarkt, the measure signals stricter heritage protection. The final UNESCO decision on Vienna’s status is expected at the next World Heritage Conference in July.
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