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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: October 23, 2006 
 
 
OeVP: Inner-Party Criticism of Chancellor Schuessel 
 
¶1. Massive criticism of OeVP party boss Wolfgang Schuessel and his 
leadership style is now heard among top party officials. Franz 
Fischler, formerly EU Commissioner and OeVP Minister of Agriculture, 
demanded a total reform of the party and President of the Austrian 
Economic Chamber Christoph Leitl called for new guidelines for the 
OeVP. 
Three weeks after the general elections, the OeVP is "in turmoil," 
writes liberal daily Der Standard. Former EU Commissioner Franz 
Fischler complained about the party's "social indifference." He also 
criticized that in his view the OeVP had turned into a "rural party 
that has lost all traces of urbaneness." In addition, the 
Conservatives were "not political enough" any more, and had become a 
"receptacle for interest group representatives." Women, in 
particular, did no longer feel at home in the party, Fischler said. 
 
Similarly, Economics Chamber President Christoph Leitl emphasized 
the OeVP needs new forms of organization, especially with regard to 
getting young people on board. As a "social integration party," the 
Conservatives should aim at "connecting all the socially relevant 
groups," and represent these manifold dimensions, Leitl argued. 
"New, ambitious goals require new, personable, faces," the Economics 
Chamber boss urged. 
 
 
Bishop Calls for Guaranteed Basic Income 
 
¶2. Bishop Ludwig Schwarz of the diocese Linz has attempted to 
position the Catholic Church in the current debate about a 
state-guaranteed basic income. 
The bishop of Upper Austria's capital Linz, Ludwig Schwarz, told 
mass-circulation daily Kurier he considers the Social Democrats' 
proposal regarding a state-guaranteed basic income a "good approach" 
and "something the political parties should seriously take into 
consideration," and even went a step further: According to his 
suggestion, everyone, regardless of their social situation and 
income, would be eligible for such a basic income. With this 
proposal, the Catholic Church has overtaken the SPOe on the left, 
the Kurier writes. Schwarz also pointed out that the gulf between 
rich and poor in Austria has widened. He stressed that it was the 
state's responsibility to assist the poor, "so that they may attain 
a standard of living in accordance with human dignity." 
 
 
Coalition Negotiations Continue 
 
¶3. This week, the coalition negotiations between SPOe and OeVP will 
tackle some of the major points of controversy between the two 
parties:  On Friday, the OeVP will present the latest figures on the 
state's financial situation, which the SPOe had demanded information 
on. Tomorrow, the committee on education will get together and 
discuss such hot topics as the introduction of a comprehensive 
school system for children aged 6 to 14. The SPOe wants to introduce 
this system all over Austria, while the OeVP is fiercely opposed to 
this idea. 
Commentator Susanne Schnabl argues on ORF radio early morning news 
Morgenjournal that this week's talks "could be the most significant 
so far. After all, money is the issue topping the agenda: a checking 
of the finances. The SPOe and the OeVP will meet on Friday, to 
discuss the country's financial situation. The figures were 
published last week, and according to Finance Minister Grasser, the 
deficit will continue to decline and is estimated to be at 1.1 
percent GNP this year. Therefore, a major negotiation round will 
address the Austrian budget development until 2010 on Friday." The 
sub-committees' meetings this week also "promise to be interesting 
affairs," particularly the ones on social and family issues and on 
education, which are going to tackle controversial issues such as 
child allowances and comprehensive schools, where the SPOe and the 
OeVP hold very dissimilar positions, Schnabl says: "This is where 
two contrasting ideological concepts collide," and "a rapprochement 
can hardly be expected." 
 
 
Putin Shows Europeans Cold Shoulder 
 
¶4. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has rejected EU demands for 
energy guarantees. 
While EU Commission President Barroso spoke of "mutual dependence" 
at the informal summit meeting of heads of state and government, the 
Russian President demanded changes in the energy charter, which 
Moscow signed in 1994, but has never ratified, says independent 
provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten. Barroso's approach, 
however, that the EU needs Russia as an energy supplier as much as 
Russia needs the Europeans as an industrial customer, is misleading, 
given the fact that Putin sees himself as the one calling the shots 
on the issue: After all, the EU depends on Russia for about 25 
percent of its oil and gas supplies. Moreover, Russia has already 
demonstrated that it might play off its European customers against 
China. The Europeans, though, cannot in all cases fall back on 
alternatives to Russian oil and gas, which is why they are pushing 
Moscow to sign the so-called energy charter, in order to avoid 
similar unwelcome surprises as last winter, when Russia cut back on 
gas deliveries to Europe during its conflict with Ukraine, the daily 
explains. 
 
 
Alleged Schedule for Iraq Puts Pressure on Bush 
 
¶5. Leading members of the US Democrats have demanded that the 
President reveal his alleged schedule for further procedure in Iraq 
before the US Congressional elections on November 7. 
The President's plan ought to contain a timeframe for the US 
withdrawal from Iraq, Senator Carl Levin specified the request 
towards US TV station "Fox." According to Levin, the time plan is of 
great importance, because without it, the Iraqis will not do what 
they must do - namely "settle their differences," ORF online news 
says. Like all major Austrian media, ORF online suggests the 
American voters' dissatisfaction with the development in Iraq are 
the key reason for why the President and the Republican Party need 
to take into account the possible loss of their majority in Congress 
in November. Similarly, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung 
headlines "George Bush might face defeat at home and throughout the 
world." The tabloid speculates that the mid-term elections "will not 
end well for Bush - in the future, he will no longer be able to 
govern without the Democrats, and will need to implement a drastic 
change of course." The American people "have long lost faith in 
their president," the Kronen Zeitung suggests, quoting from a recent 
survey by US magazine Newsweek, according to which 54 percent say 
the US-led invasion of Iraq was a mistake, and only 39 percent 
believe it was the right decision. 
 
 
Freeway into Space 
 
¶6. A new doctrine signed by President Bush is supposed to cement US 
dominance in space, at the same time, it gives the administration 
the option of denying those powers that are "hostile to US 
interests" access to space. 
Independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten writes that the 
revised "National Space Policy" marks a strategic shift in US space 
policy. Experts criticize the unilateralist claim that is inherent 
in the new doctrine, and warn that it could lead to a militarization 
of space. While experts do not deny the growing significance of 
space, they warn that the Bush administration may be trying to 
secure its already existing dominance in the area through military 
means. In addition, the Salzburger Nachrichten writes, Washington's 
approach to make sure that the US can "operate unhindered in space 
in order to defend our interests there," contrasts with a number of 
international agreements. The US government, however, has dismissed 
criticism that with its new doctrine it is paving the way for an 
arms race in space. 
 
 
Celebrations Show Divisions in Hungary 
 
¶7. After 50 years, the Hungarian uprising continues to divide the 
Hungarian parties:  The Socialists and the conservative Young 
Democrats are holding separate celebrations. It is the scandal 
around Prime Minister Gyurscany's admission of lies that spoils the 
celebrations this year. The celebrations began on Sunday, and 
Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who attended together with other 
foreign dignitaries, gave a speech in the State Opera in Budapest, 
calling for "consensus" in Hungary, writes centrist daily Die 
Presse. 
McCaw