Bilingual signs vandalised in Carinthia, Rosenkranz bans gender symbols in parliament, and Austria scrambles to hire school psychologists after the Graz rampage — plus more stories from across the country this Monday.
Bilingual place name signs vandalised in Carinthia
Five bilingual place name signs in the district of Völkermarkt were defaced overnight, with the Slovenian names spray-painted over, according to Der Standard.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) condemned the act as “intolerable,” and Carinthian Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) called it a “cowardly attack” on peaceful coexistence. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has taken over the politically motivated crime probe.
Rosenkranz bans gender symbols from parliamentary texts
National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) has banned the use of gender colons and slashes in official parliamentary texts, Der Standard reported.
Only masculine and feminine word pairs or neutral forms will now be permitted. SPÖ, Greens and NEOS condemned the move as backward and exclusionary, while Rosenkranz defended it as aligning with the rules of the German Spelling Council.
Austria urgently seeks 70 school psychologists after Graz rampage
Following June’s school shooting in Graz, the Education Ministry is still looking to fill 70 psychologist posts nationwide, ORF Styria reported.
Officials warned of overwork and high turnover among existing staff, with waiting times for student assessments stretching into weeks. Starting salaries of €3,700 gross deter many applicants compared with higher-paid clinical psychology roles.
New Viennese municipal buildings focus on larger family apartments
Advertisement
Vienna has unveiled several new municipal housing projects designed to tackle the shortage of large family flats, Der Standard reported.
Recent complexes in Mariahilf, Margareten and Neubau feature many four- and five-room apartments. The city aims to expand its stock to 4,000 new council units, with another 1,500 promised under the current coalition. Rents are capped at €7.29 per m² under subsidy rules.
Masked climbers film dangerous ascent of St Stephen’s Cathedral
Two masked men scaled Vienna’s 136-metre St Stephen’s Cathedral without safety gear and filmed the stunt for YouTube, according to Kurier.
The pair, linked to the “freeflow.nation” account, were seen climbing scaffolding and entering the tower before abseiling inside. Police are investigating possible endangerment and damage to the Gothic landmark.
Austria records 32 percent drop in asylum applications
Asylum applications fell by nearly a third this year, from 19,075 to 13,032, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Advertisement
Officials credit tighter border controls and deportation measures for the decline. Half of the 10,463 deportees between January and September had criminal convictions. Chancellor Christian Stocker reaffirmed the goal of “zero illegal migration.”
Storm front to hit Austria midweek after mild start
The new week begins mild and sunny, with temperatures reaching 19C before a North Sea storm system brings rain and strong winds from Thursday, Kurier reported.
Eastern regions will stay warmer longer, touching 20C, but by Friday the country will see blustery conditions and highs of 13C to 18C.
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.