Debate over an ÖVP integration campaign and the death of a major Austrian artist dominate headlines, plus more stories from Austria on Monday.
ÖVP campaign on Muslims draws criticism
A social media campaign by the ÖVP has triggered sharp criticism from across Austria’s political spectrum, according to Der Standard. The campaign, presented by Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm, claims that large parts of the population view integration and coexistence with Muslims negatively.
Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer from the SPÖ publicly apologised and distanced himself from the campaign, while Green politicians accused the ÖVP of fuelling division. Critics said the messaging stigmatised Muslims living in Austria.
Plakolm defended the campaign by citing survey data from the Austrian Integration Fund. One slogan states: “Integration is not an offer, but a duty.”
Fake charity collectors reported at Vienna Christmas market
Police reported two suspected fake charity collectors at the Schönbrunn Christmas market in Vienna on Saturday evening, according to ORF Wien. A 40-year-old woman and her 18-year-old son allegedly approached visitors claiming to collect donations for a soup kitchen.
Officers said the pair were unable to provide proof that they were authorised to collect donations. A four-digit sum of cash was seized during the check.
Both were reported on suspicion of commercial fraud and released on the orders of the Vienna public prosecutor’s office. The presumption of innocence applies.
Austrian painter Arnulf Rainer dies aged 96
The influential Austrian painter Arnulf Rainer has died at the age of 96, Die Presse reported. Rainer was regarded as one of the last major figures of Austria’s post-war avant-garde and a defining figure in abstract painting.
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Over a career spanning decades, he became internationally known for his radical overpaintings and expressive techniques. He also taught as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
Rainer died over the weekend, marking the end of an era in Austrian art history.
Vienna could see its first white Christmas since 2012
The chances of a white Christmas are unusually high this year, including in Vienna, according to Vienna.at. Meteorologists say light snowfall is possible on Christmas Eve, particularly in eastern and southern Austria.
For Vienna, this could be the first white Christmas since 2012, although some uncertainty remains. Snow is more likely in cities such as Graz and Klagenfurt.
Weather forecasts also warn of fog, icy conditions and freezing temperatures in the coming days, especially in low-lying areas.
What’s happening in Austria today
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The Margaretha Lupac Foundation will award its Democracy Prize 2024 and Science Prize 2025 at 4pm in parliament. The ceremony includes speeches by National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and a panel discussion with the prize winners.
The office for consular certifications will be closed from December 22nd to 26th. The office issues legalisations and apostilles for Austrian documents and normally operates without appointments.
According to GeoSphere Austria, today’s weather will be influenced by high pressure. Early temperatures range from -8C to +4C, with daytime highs between 1C and 9C depending on fog or sunshine. Avalanche services in Tyrol and Carinthia report low danger levels, with only very isolated risk spots at high altitude.
Coming up later on The Local
We look at which Austrian universities made it into the world’s top rankings for 2026 and what this means for international students considering studying in Austria.
Vocabulary
die Integration – integration into society
der Betrug – fraud
der Weihnachtsmarkt – Christmas market
die weißen Weihnachten – a white Christmas with snow
die Hochschule – university or higher education institution
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