Sebastian Kurz’s appeal date confirmed, FPÖ MP loses licence for drunk driving, and Austria sees a housing construction slump—plus more stories from Austria on Thursday.

Sebastian Kurz appeal hearing set for May 26th

Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will appear before the Vienna Higher Regional Court on May 26th to appeal his eight-month suspended sentence for making false statements before the Ibiza U-Committee, as reported by Die Presse. 

Kurz, who previously led the centre-right ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party), was partially acquitted in February 2024 but convicted in relation to testimony downplaying his role in appointments at the state holding company ÖBAG.

His former cabinet chief, Bernhard Bonelli, also received a six-month suspended sentence and is appealing. The presumption of innocence continues to apply. The trial will now move into its next phase with high public interest.

FPÖ MP loses driving licence for drunk driving

Erwin Baumann, an FPÖ (right-wing Freedom Party) member of parliament and Villach city councillor, had his licence temporarily revoked after a drink-driving incident on Good Friday, according to ORF Kärnten. 

He reportedly registered a blood alcohol level of 1.2 per mille (0.12% or 120 mg/dL) after being tested in a pub following a tip-off from another driver.

Despite the legal consequences, which include a fine of up to €4,400 and mandatory retraining, Baumann said he sees no political reason to resign. FPÖ leader Erwin Angerer echoed that stance, stating the matter would be handled as any other legal case.

Housing construction stagnates at low level

Austria is seeing a continued downturn in new housing construction, with just 25,200 completions expected this year, according to a forecast presented by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and reported by Die Presse. 

This represents a sharp drop from 46,000 completions three years ago, especially in the privately funded rental sector.

Real estate experts blame a mix of factors, including Austria’s KIM regulation on lending and high building costs. Although interest rates have improved, the industry is calling for simplified administrative processes and legislative changes to stimulate new projects.

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S45 to shut down for six weeks due to track works

Vienna’s S45 S-Bahn line will be partially closed from April 28th to June 12th for major rail maintenance, as reported by Vienna.at. 

The section between Hernals and Handelskai will be affected first, with a replacement bus service in operation during the closure.

The works include upgrading points and tracks and will be completed in two phases. Passengers should expect travel times to increase by around 20 minutes while the line is offline.

Medical school applications rise again after decline

Austria’s medical school entrance exam has seen an uptick in applicants, with 15,668 people registering for the test on July 4th, according to Der Standard. 

After years of decline, interest rose this year particularly in Vienna and Linz, while application numbers remained steady in Graz and Innsbruck.

There are 1,900 spots available nationwide. A portion of places is reserved for public service roles, where applicants agree to work in specific sectors such as the military or public health. These applicants may be accepted with slightly lower scores.

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Bike thefts rise to nearly 20,000 cases in 2024

Austria recorded 19,455 bicycle thefts last year, marking a nearly 5 percent increase from 2023, according to statistics published by Verkehrsclub Österreich and cited by ORF. 

While Vienna had the highest number of total thefts, Salzburg and Klagenfurt had the most cases per capita.

The national clearance rate was just 8.9 percent. Authorities recommend registering frame numbers and considering insurance for high-value bikes. Despite the rise, thefts remain below pre-pandemic levels.

New pandas arrive at Schönbrunn Zoo

Two giant pandas, Lan Yun and He Feng, arrived at Schönbrunn Zoo from China on Wednesday morning, as reported by ORF Wien. 

Born in 2020, the pandas are now undergoing quarantine and acclimatisation before being introduced to the public in mid-May.

Zoo staff travelled to Chengdu to familiarise themselves with the animals and ensure a smooth journey. The cooperation with China on panda conservation has been extended for another ten years.

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Twelve-year-old identified as third suspect in Vienna robbery

A 12-year-old girl has been identified as the third suspect in a robbery at Vienna’s Riesenradplatz, according to ORF Wien. 

A 16-year-old girl was assaulted and robbed on Tuesday night. Two other suspects, aged 14 and 15, were arrested and taken into custody.

The 12-year-old, a Romanian national, will be questioned in the coming days. Police believe a prior altercation weeks earlier may have led to the incident, which was partially recorded and posted online.

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