Austrian Elections & Politics 4.0

[Tender Branson]

Here are the results of the Salzburg City election today, by city district:



As expected, the SPÖ-candidate won the inner-city and northern parts and the ÖVP-candidate the outer districts. The Green and NEOS candidates were very strong in the inner-city areas (10-20%). The FPÖ candidate only got more than 10% in a few districts.

[Tender Branson]

The public ORF reports that the ÖVP/FPÖ coalition talks are very likely to be finalized during the long weekend between December 8-10.

http://orf.at/stories/2416622

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5328363/SchwarzBlau-im-Endspurt

If the new government is presented on this weekend, it will likely be sworn in by President VdB on December 11th or 12th, after the coalition contract is signed off by the ÖVP and FPÖ party committees on Monday.

President Van der Bellen has already cancelled his planned Lebanon visit for this week and parliament has set a session for December 13th.

The new Chancellor Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Strache could introduce their government there and Chancellor Kurz would then fly to Brussels for the EU summit on December 14-15.

Tomorrow, ÖVP-FPÖ will present their plans on education. The reports also say that they are stepping up the negotiation speed significantly over the next 2 weeks, with the steering group meeting virtually every day now.

[mvd10]

Didn't take as long as the Dutch formation

[Tender Branson]

Today it emerged that ÖVP/FPÖ want to merge several social security carriers.

The number of carriers would drop from the current 21 to about 10, for example by merging the carrier for self-employed with the farmers etc.

This would make them more efficient, they say (mergers have already been passed about a decade ago, for example when the carrier for the Railway employees was merged with the Mining Industry carrier).

Also, ÖVP+FPÖ plan to expand all-day care in schools.

[Tender Branson]

The December 11-15 week will be awesome:

* The new right-wing ÖVP/FPÖ government gets sworn in
* The Constitutional Court might rule in favour of gay marriage (no later than Dec. 15)

[DL]

Also, ÖVP+FPÖ plan to expand all-day care in schools.

What makes the OVP/FPO "rightwing" is they want to do very leftwing things like expanding day care?

[Zinneke]

Also, ÖVP+FPÖ plan to expand all-day care in schools.

What makes the OVP/FPO "rightwing" is they want to do very leftwing things like expanding day care?

Is this a serious question?

[Tender Branson]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

[Tender Branson]

FPÖ-leader Strache apparently will not become Interior Minister (because Vice-Chancellor, party leader and Interior Minister would be too work-intensive):

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5329157/FPOe-hat-es-beim-Verhandeln-nicht-so-eilig-wie-die-OeVP

There are a lot of rumours around right now, so we still need to wait until the end.

[Tender Branson]

The fact that ÖVP+FPÖ will soon enter a coalition on the federal level doesn't mean they are playing nice on the state level ...

In Lower Austria (state elections on Jan. 28th), this is the new FPÖ-poster:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner is the ÖVP-Governor there.

The ÖVP is playing it down as "election campaign season".

[Hnv1]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

[Tender Branson]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

[Omega21]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

Why? A country is not obligated to nurture radicals and give them pocket money every month. If the parents are not fit to raise their children I don't see a problem even if the parents lose custody, let alone get a less pocket money every month.

[Tender Branson]

New development:

ÖVP/FPÖ might grant Austrian citizenship to South Tyrolians.

http://orf.at/stories/2416885

The FPÖ is definitely in favour, the ÖVP is thinking about it and is in close contact with the South Tyrol government and the Italian government.

Recently, 19 of the 35 MPs in the South Tyrol state parliament signed and sent a letter to Kurz/Strache, asking them to grant Austrian citizenship for the (German-speaking) minority. I guess Italian- and Ladin-speaking people would also be able to request it, considering it will apply to all citizens of South Tyrol.

[swl]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

A law discriminating on background  (ethnicity or religion) would be cancelled by European courts for sure

[Tender Branson]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

A law discriminating on background  (ethnicity or religion) would be cancelled by European courts for sure

I seriously doubt this. There are means to formulate the sanctions in a way that courts would uphold it if they are challenged. ÖVP and FPÖ are consulting constitutional experts in their talks after all.

[Tender Branson]

Final GDP data for Q3 will be out tomorrow.

It is expected that the economy will grow by 3% this year and 2.8% next year, the best results since 2011.

The November Purchasing Managers' Index for the manufacturing sector recorded the highest reading in 19 years, suggesting very strong GDP growth in Q4 as well.

Manufacturing output is up 5% compared with last year and 18.000 jobs were created (+3%).

(I work in the manufacturing/export sector myself and the current orders are just staggering and nothing compared to previous years. We have a lot of orders from Germany and Scandinavia right now.)

http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/interestrates/Austria-s-Manufacturing-Growth-Quickens-In-November-1009915255

The deficit (based on numbers until October) will likely come in at 0.8% of GDP (down from a deficit of 1.6% last year).

Debt as a percentage of GDP should go down to 79% (from 84% last year) and is projected to reach 65% by 2022 (when the ÖVP/FPÖ term is finished).

Unemployment was 5.4% in October (down from 6% last October).

So, ÖVP/FPÖ are definitely starting their term with the economy booming.

[Tender Branson]

Final GDP data for Q3 will be out tomorrow.

Q3 GDP has grown by 3.2% compared with last year.

The Q2 number was revised up to 2.7%, while the Q1 number stayed at 3.2%

Q4 will be very strong as well, so growth for 2017 as a whole might be 3.0-3.2% (which would be faster than Germany and the EU).

Link

[Tender Branson]

The ÖVP-FPÖ government will either be sworn in on Dec. 13, Dec. 20 or on Jan. 8 - depending how fast they can resolve the final big hurdles such as direct democracy.

http://mobil.derstandard.at/2000068862157/Grosse-Brocken-bei-Koalitionsverhandlungen-sind-noch-ausstaendig

Norbert Hofer will likely become Minister for Infrastructure and has said he won't shave his beard until the coalition is sworn in.

[Hnv1]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

Child benefit are meant for children, taking them away due to misconduct by parents is punishing by proxy and hurtful to right of self-respect as Germanic courts tend to interpret it (not using someone as means).

We had a similar case here a decade ago where Bedouin refused to give their children vaccinations and they wanted to cut down on their benefits, but it was deemed unconstitutional

[Tender Branson]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

What do you think is unconstitutional ?

Parents not sending their kids to school ? Or that the government can cut their welfare, if they refuse to send their kids to school ?

Child benefit are meant for children, taking them away due to misconduct by parents is punishing by proxy and hurtful to right of self-respect as Germanic courts tend to interpret it (not using someone as means).

We had a similar case here a decade ago where Bedouin refused to give their children vaccinations and they wanted to cut down on their benefits, but it was deemed unconstitutional

It's more about the general welfare payments I guess, not necessarily the child benefits alone. It remains to be seen if they can enforce this, or if a court will strike it down.

But there should definitely be a crackdown on radical parents like this. At best, deport them.

[Tender Branson]

ÖVP+FPÖ today presented a very "green" coalition platform for climate change, renewables, environment and animal rights:

http://derstandard.at/2000068896282/Bis-2030-soll-gesamter-Strom-aus-erneuerbarer-Energie-erzeugt-werden

Until 2030, ÖVP/FPÖ wants Austria to become a leader on renewables (it already is now) and wants the total electricity consumption to be from renewables (mostly water and wind here).

ÖVP/FPÖ wants zero electricity production (or imports) from nuclear energy and coal.

Via Google Translate:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Former President tack50]

ÖVP+FPÖ presented their common education platform today (nothing really controversial):

http://derstandard.at/2000068669389/Lehrer-sollen-kuenftig-nach-Leistung-bezahlt-werden

Some points:

* more funding for kindergartens + elementary/middle schools and kids (to screen for and help talents early on), strengthening of social and creative skills of students.

* teaching kids Austrian/Western/liberal values early on, from kindergarten. Children from (Muslim) migrant backgrounds will have to pass a level of German before entering elementary school, or take additional German lessons if they are not passing that basic level after 2 years of kindergarten. If migrant parents with a potential radical background do not send their kids to school or tell them not to shake hands with female teachers etc., welfare benefits of these parents will be cut.

* more comprehensive, all-day schooling (to help out working moms in the afternoon)

* teaching kids more economic/entrepreneurial competence in school, such as e-learning, digital media, coding and how to create/run a business ...

* stricter controls of Muslim kindergartens and if necessary ... they will be shut down, if they do not follow state guidelines. Kindergarten lead teachers will need to have a mandatory university degree and outside financing (from Turkey, Saudi Arabia) will be banned.

* teachers will be rewarded if they produce good educational results among their students and teachers will have to take mandatory skill enhancement courses throughout the year to remain up-to-date.

I think that's unconstitutional, both according to Austrian constitution and EUHRC.

anyway fair play to FPÖ, unlike their Afd\FN\Ukip counterparts they actually look like a party capable of governing.

That's probably easy to make constitutional though. Just remove the "migrant parents" part and that's it. Applying it to all Austrians wouldn't be an issue. Let's be honest, the amount of Austrians without any migration background doing that is almost certainly 0.

And yeah, FPÖ seems like a decent party. Not exactly my cup of tea but I do think that my ideal government in Austria would probably be an SPÖ-FPÖ coalition.

[Tender Branson]

Nora Illi, a radical female Muslim from Switzerland has provoked Austrians with a speech at a mosque in Vienna:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Hopefully this b**ch is banned from entering the country again ...

[Tender Branson]

The BMI is now looking into the matter of Nora Illi and will check if she should be banned from entering the country:

http://www.krone.at/601677

Even better would be a Radical Muslim Prohibition Law, similar to Austria's Anti-Nazi Law, that ÖVP+FPÖ both want to introduce. Any radical Muslim who argues against the Austrian rule of law and constitution should be under constant attack by the state, imprisoned or be deported. Just like the Nazis.