Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Monday
Controversy about subsidies, political crisis in ÖVP, school's back with few Covid rules and more news from Austria on Monday.
Vice-chancellor opposes further subsidies for heating
Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) opposes Chancellor Karl Nehammer's (ÖVP) wishes for further relief on heating costs, the newspaper Kurier reported.
He would be "very cautious" about further aid, he said in an ATV interview aired Saturday evening: "It will not be possible for every kilowatt hour of electricity or gas to be subsidised in a way as if the crisis did not exist."
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) has already taken a similar line. However, Kogler goes one step further and calls on the federal states to provide further energy assistance: "We are gladly prepared to support the federal states. But we can't do everything centrally from some ministry in the federal government for every household from Bregenz to Eisenstadt."
READ ALSO: How could Austria’s new electricity price brake benefit you?
UN approves Austria’s Volker Türk as new human rights chief
The United Nations approved Austrian diplomat Volker Turk as its new high commissioner for human rights, replacing former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in the sensitive, high-profile post, AFP reported.
The 57-year-old envoy had spent most of his career within the UN system, focusing on refugees. He worked closely with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when the latter headed the global body's refugee agency.
Turk will have his work cut out: Bachelet published a long-awaited report on rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region just minutes before the end of her term, leaving the tricky follow-up job to her successor.
READ ALSO: ‘Era comes to an end’: Austria reacts to the death of Queen Elizabeth II
ÖVP General Secretary resigns
ÖVP Secretary General Laura Sachslehner has resigned.
She said she could no longer support the ÖVP's current course on asylum issues, according to a personal statement she released on Saturday. The ÖVP-Green coalition had agreed that asylum seekers were also entitled to the €500 climate bonus payments that every resident in Austria will receive this year.
She said: even if you are in a coalition with the Greens - if an asylum seeker should get the same amount as Austrians who work daily and pay their taxes, "then this is no longer my world."
For the opposition party SPÖ, Sachslehner's resignation is "also an expression of the chaos in the Turkish-Green federal government and the ÖVP", said SPÖ federal manager Christian Deutsch in a statement.
READ ALSO: When will Austria make the €500 anti-inflation payment and how do I get it?
School starts in the Western states
One week after their colleagues in the East, the approximately 640,000 children and young people in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Styria and Carinthia also start the new school year today.
As in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, the Covid rules are roughly the same as those that ended the previous school year.
Although there is no general obligation to test and mask, directors can order antigen tests or masks for up to two weeks in case of infections or even longer with the approval of the education directorate.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: The Covid-19 measures for the start of the Austrian school year
Weather
Screenshot from ZAMG
In the west and south, it will become increasingly sunny today, Austria's meteorologic institute ZAMG said.
The north and east of the country will remain under a weak low-pressure influence for the time being, which will cause some rain showers to pass through again during the day and the sunshine to be interrupted at times.
The daily high temperature is 18C to 25C.
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
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Vice-chancellor opposes further subsidies for heating
Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) opposes Chancellor Karl Nehammer's (ÖVP) wishes for further relief on heating costs, the newspaper Kurier reported.
He would be "very cautious" about further aid, he said in an ATV interview aired Saturday evening: "It will not be possible for every kilowatt hour of electricity or gas to be subsidised in a way as if the crisis did not exist."
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) has already taken a similar line. However, Kogler goes one step further and calls on the federal states to provide further energy assistance: "We are gladly prepared to support the federal states. But we can't do everything centrally from some ministry in the federal government for every household from Bregenz to Eisenstadt."
READ ALSO: How could Austria’s new electricity price brake benefit you?
UN approves Austria’s Volker Türk as new human rights chief
The United Nations approved Austrian diplomat Volker Turk as its new high commissioner for human rights, replacing former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in the sensitive, high-profile post, AFP reported.
The 57-year-old envoy had spent most of his career within the UN system, focusing on refugees. He worked closely with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when the latter headed the global body's refugee agency.
Turk will have his work cut out: Bachelet published a long-awaited report on rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region just minutes before the end of her term, leaving the tricky follow-up job to her successor.
READ ALSO: ‘Era comes to an end’: Austria reacts to the death of Queen Elizabeth II
ÖVP General Secretary resigns
ÖVP Secretary General Laura Sachslehner has resigned.
She said she could no longer support the ÖVP's current course on asylum issues, according to a personal statement she released on Saturday. The ÖVP-Green coalition had agreed that asylum seekers were also entitled to the €500 climate bonus payments that every resident in Austria will receive this year.
She said: even if you are in a coalition with the Greens - if an asylum seeker should get the same amount as Austrians who work daily and pay their taxes, "then this is no longer my world."
For the opposition party SPÖ, Sachslehner's resignation is "also an expression of the chaos in the Turkish-Green federal government and the ÖVP", said SPÖ federal manager Christian Deutsch in a statement.
READ ALSO: When will Austria make the €500 anti-inflation payment and how do I get it?
School starts in the Western states
One week after their colleagues in the East, the approximately 640,000 children and young people in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Styria and Carinthia also start the new school year today.
As in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, the Covid rules are roughly the same as those that ended the previous school year.
Although there is no general obligation to test and mask, directors can order antigen tests or masks for up to two weeks in case of infections or even longer with the approval of the education directorate.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: The Covid-19 measures for the start of the Austrian school year
Weather
In the west and south, it will become increasingly sunny today, Austria's meteorologic institute ZAMG said.
The north and east of the country will remain under a weak low-pressure influence for the time being, which will cause some rain showers to pass through again during the day and the sunshine to be interrupted at times.
The daily high temperature is 18C to 25C.
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
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