Glyphosate Banned in Austria as More Countries Become Aware of Weed Killer Poison

Via America’s Lawyer: Austria has become the latest country to completely ban glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, the weed killer. Mike Papantonio explains more.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Ousted in Co-Confidence Vote | DW News

Just two weeks ago Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz looked invincible. But now he is the country's first leader since the war to be ousted in a no-confidence motion. Parliament voted to kick him out over a corruption scandal involving his far-right coalition partner, the Freedom party (FPÖ). Now the country will be run by technocrats until new elections in September. Kurz, for his part, has vowed to fight on.

Europe's Centrists Draw on Austrian Scandal to Issue Far-right Warning

THE GUARDIAN: Mainstream parties hope voters will shun populists in wake of ‘politicians for sale’ revelation

Politicians from mainstream parties across Europe have called on voters to shun the far right in this week’s European elections after Austria’s vice-chancellor resigned over a video sting that showed him offering public contracts in exchange for financial and campaign backing.

Heinz-Christian Strache stepped down on Saturday after the footage emerged. Hours later, Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, announced snap elections, ending the 18-month ruling coalition between his centre-right Austrian People’s party (ÖVP) and Strache’s far-right Freedom party (FPÖ).

The video showed the vice-chancellor proposing to trade government contracts for party donations and favourable media coverage with a woman posing as the wealthy niece of a Russian energy billionaire. He acknowledged the video was “catastrophic” but denied doing anything illegal. » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondent | Monday, May 20, 2019

Strache Video Ibiza HD

Wie Strache und Gudenus auf Ibiza in eine Falle tappen

Austria: Far-right Vice-Chancellor Strache Forced to Resign | DW News

Austria's vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, of the far-right Freedom Party has announced his resignation from the country's coalition government. Strache was forced to step down after German media published a secretly recorded 2017 video from the island of Ibiza. It appears to show Strache offering government contracts in return for campaign donations. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, of the People's Party had already ruled out further co-operation with Strache in the country's governing coalition although Strache had denied any wrongdoing.

Austria Minister Heinz-Christian Strache Resigns amid Video Scandal

BBC: Austria's Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache has resigned a day after secret video footage mired him in a corruption scandal.

The video appeared to show Mr Strache discussing government contracts with an alleged Russian investor in return for campaign support.

He also appeared to hint at a potentially illegal donation system for the far-right Freedom Party he leads.

Mr Strache said that transport minister Norbert Hofer will replace him.

He said he was leaving to avoid further damage to the government and claimed he had been the "victim of a targeted political attack" which had used illegal means. » | Saturday, May 18, 2019

Is the Austrian Government Serious about Cracking Down on the Far-right? l Inside Story

The Austrian government says it will not tolerate what it considers 'extremist ideology'. And it's now considering disbanding the far-right Identitarian movement and investigating whether it is a 'terrorist' organisation.

That decision has been made after it was confirmed the movement's leader, Martin Sellner, received nearly $1,700 from the man accused of perpetrating the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand. But he has denied any ties to white supremacist Brenton Tarrant.

Austria is the only country in Western Europe with a far-right presence in government. The leader of the right-wing Freedom Party has distanced himself from the Identitarians; and the country's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says radical ideologies are not welcome in Austria. But is anyone convinced?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Michael Bonvalot, author and expert on the far-right in Austria; Emily Gorcenski, Researcher and Advisory Board member to the Prosecution Project, a research lab studying political violence; Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Professor of Sociology at the American University and author of "The Extreme Gone Mainstream: Commercialization and Far Right Youth Culture in Germany"

Austria Restricts Immigration and Hampers Integration

Europe Migration Crisis: Austria's Kurz Building Bridges? | Al Jazeera English

On Sunday, Austria takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. It means Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will temporarily lead an institution struggling to find a united front on migration. Kurz is pro-European but has taken a tough line on immigration in the past. So what direction will the bloc take with Austria at the helm? Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports from Oberndorf bei Salzburg.

Who Wants Migrants Rescued from the Mediterranean Sea? | Inside Story

The arguments over who should take responsibility for refugees arriving in Europe are heating up again. EU leaders have long been divided about how to handle the migrant crisis, which is being highlighted by the grueling voyage undertaken by 630 migrants now in Spain. They were stranded at sea for more than a week because of a diplomatic row. Italy and Malta refused to accept them after being rescued from overcrowded dinghies off the coast of Libya.

After much debate, the new Spanish government allowed the charity ship Aquarius and two other vessels to dock in Valencia. Anti-immigration sentiment has increased in Europe with right-wing parties who want tougher rules making gains in Austria, Germany and Italy.

There is widespread agreement that the EU needs to overhaul asylum and immigration laws, but disagreement on how. An EU summit is due to discuss new rules in Brussels at the end of this month. Can they overcome their deep divisions?

Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam | Guests: William Lacy Swing - Director General, International Organization for Migration; Francesco Galietti - Head of Policy Sonar political risk consultancy

Crackdown on 'Political Islam': Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, Receives Death Threats after Closing Mosques

An anti-terrorism probe has been launched in Austria after the county's chancellor Sebastian Kurz received death threats. It's believed the threats are linked to the government closing seven mosques and expelling dozens of imams over alleged links to extremism

Austria Crackdown – Government to Shut Down Mosques | Al Jazeera English

The Austrian government is shutting down seven mosques and expelling imams. It's part of measures by the chancellor Sebastian Kurz to target what he calls "political Islam" in the country. Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reports from neighbouring Germany.

David Davis's Brexit Speech in Austria - Watch Live

David Davis will tell business leaders in Austria that fears the Conservatives will plunge Britain into a “Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction” after leaving the EU are unfounded.

Inside Austria's Far-right Fraternities

Today Austria... The Normalisation of Europe's Far-right

How Trump’s Presidency Is Fueling Right-Wing Nationalist & Anti-Immigration Movements Across Europe

In Austria, conservative leader Sebastian Kurz has been tasked with forming a government after he won a slim majority in the snap elections earlier this month. His conservative party, which campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, is now weighing whether to form a coalition with Austria’s far-right populist Freedom Party, which won 26 percent of the vote in the Austrian elections. The Freedom Party was founded by former Nazis six decades ago. This comes as hate crimes in Britain hit a record high and anti-immigrant nationalist movements are surging across Europe. For more, we speak with Dominic Thomas, professor at UCLA who specializes in European politics. Thomas is chair of the Department of French and Francophone Studies.

Right-wing Rise in Austria: Threat for Europe? | DW English

Conservative politician Sebastian Kurz has won Austria's elections by espousing right-wing positions. What consequences will that have for Europe? Guests this time: Ulrike Herrmann (taz), Frank Hofmann (DW), Matthew Karnitschnig (Politico).

Europe’s Newest Face: Kurz’s Election Win Indicates Rightward Shift for Austria

French President Emmanuel Macron no longer holds the bragging rights to the title "Europe's fresh face". Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of Austria's Christian Democrats and the winner of Sunday's snap election now holds that distinction. So what can we expect from this new leader whose ideas were supported by one quarter of the vote? The issues of immigration dominated his campaign and he openly embraced the prospect of forming a coalition with the far-right.

Inside Story - What Is behind Austria's Sharp Turn to the Right?

Sebastian Kurz has declared victory in Austria's national elections. He is on track to become the world's youngest leader.

Austria Election: The Difference between Macron and Kurz

France's Emmanuel Macron no longer holds bragging rights to the title of "Europe's fresh face." That distinction now the property of Sebastian Kurz, leader of Austria's Christian Democrats, winner of Sunday's snap general election, and at 31, eight years the junior of Macron. So what are the new ideas behind the new face?