Prominent Austrians back campaign to keep FPÖ out of government
A civil society initiative, “A Promise for the Republic,” is sending letters to 1,500 National Council candidates, urging them to prevent the far-right FPÖ from joining the government.
The campaign, supported by 100 prominent figures from the arts and culture sectors, asks candidates—except those from the FPÖ—to pledge against any coalition with the party. The responses will be made public in mid-September.
Initiator Gabriele Bacher, a film producer, stressed the importance of this civic commitment, warning that FPÖ participation in government “would be different this time.” Constitutional lawyer Heinz Mayer also cautioned against the party’s increasing radicalisation, citing its opposition to the European Skyshield air defence system as a threat to Austria’s security.
The initiative has garnered support from high-profile figures, including IKG President Oskar Deutsch, entrepreneur Hans-Peter Haselsteiner, and actors Verena Altenberger and Cornelius Obonya. Candidates are asked to return their signed pledges by September 13th, and the results will be published on the website Fuerdierepublik.at.
Wolves to bears: Where in Austria could you come across predators?
Mountains, forests, and lakes—Austria is known for its beautiful nature, but be aware that it is also home to a rich variety of wildlife.
Early grape harvest begins in Lower Austria due to extreme heat
Due to the recent extreme heat, many vineyards in Lower Austria are harvesting grapes nearly a month early to prevent the wine from becoming too high in alcohol.
Winemaker Nikolaus Moser, from Rohrendorf near Krems, began harvesting on August 22nd, saying it’s crucial to pick quickly to avoid overly sugary grapes. Consumers prefer lighter wines; if grapes hang too long, the resulting wine could be too strong.
Moser and his team work from early morning until late afternoon, aiming to finish by September 20th, when harvests usually begin.
Reinhard Zöchmann, President of the Provincial Winegrowers’ Association, confirms that vineyards across Lower Austria are starting earlier than last year. However, he notes that timing varies yearly due to unpredictable weather patterns, and winegrowers must remain adaptable. Zöchmann is optimistic about this year’s vintage quality despite the early harvest.
Tyrol sees sharp rise in bank robberies
Authorities are puzzled by a sharp rise in bank robberies across Tyrol, with eight heists reported since November 2023. The latest occurred in Innsbruck on Tuesday, following another in Mieders last week.
Five robberies have hit Innsbruck, two in Kufstein and one in Mieders. Innsbruck prosecutor Hansjörg Mayr called the spike “unexplainable,” noting that no robberies had occurred for some years. Suspects have been arrested in two cases, but the latest perpetrator remains at large.
Despite the surge, the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce’s banking division has no immediate plans to alter security measures but will meet with law enforcement next week.
91-year-old killed in suspected Vienna burglary
A 91-year-old woman was found dead in her Vienna-Floridsdorf allotment garden house, likely the victim of a break-in. Relatives discovered her body on Wednesday morning and alerted police, who saw signs of forced entry. The woman had head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. A forensic autopsy is expected to clarify the circumstances. Authorities are investigating whether she disturbed the intruder or was targeted.
Austrian retailers file complaint against TEMU over unfair practices
The Austrian Retail Association has lodged a formal complaint against the Chinese online marketplace Temu with the Federal Competition Authority (BWB), accusing the platform of unfair business practices. In a twelve-page document, the association outlines several alleged Unfair Competition Act (UWG) violations, including false claims about product availability, misleading information on price reductions, and deceptive statements regarding stock shortages.
Rainer Will, Managing Director of the Austrian Retail Association, highlighted that Temu “arbitrarily displays recommended retail prices (EIAs), which are purportedly much higher than the actual selling prices.” Will further criticised the influx of goods from Asian online platforms, noting that “30,000 parcels arrive daily in Austria from platforms that do not adhere to local regulations.”
The association’s complaint warns that these practices could lead to significant financial harm to Austria’s business sector.
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