2009 State and European Parliament Elections in Austria

[freek]

My result:

Upper Austria

ÖVP 50
FPÖ 20
Grüne -5
BZÖ -20
SPÖ -45
KPÖ -50

Vorarlberg

ÖVP 155
FPÖ 45
BZÖ 20
SPÖ -20
Gsiberger -65
Grüne -75

What does "Gsiberger" mean? Is it a nickname for people from Vorarlberg?

[freek]

The Coalition (SPÖVP) has obviously agreed that Johannes (Gio) Hahn will go to Brussels, to become the new Austrian EU Commissioner for something (probably Agriculture).

Agriculture? Again? That would be the third time in four Commissions.

Oh well, at least it is better for a country than having the European Commissioner for Multilingualism.

[freek]

- NL - Netherlands: The Netherlands has not made an official announcement yet. The appointee will depend to a large extent on the portfolio. The names being heard most often, apart from Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who some see as the future European Council president, include: Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, Yvonne van Rooy, chancellor of the University of Tilburg and former deputy minister for economic affairs, former Agriculture Minister Cees Veermans and Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven.

The new European Commissioner from the Netherlands will be the same as the current Commissioner Neelie Kroes. Her current portfolio is Competition, her new portfolio is still unknown, but it is probable that it will have to do with the economy (e.g. Trade, Internal Market, Economy&Finance). Also, she will be one of the vice-chairmen of the Commission.