Free Republic

New statistics from the Ministry of the Interior show that last year's sex offenders have reached a dramatic peak: from 2015 to 2016 a rise of 26.18 percent. It is especially striking that Afghans are often seen as perpetrators in statistics. As the "press" reported on Thursday, 5253 sexual offenses were reported in 2016, compared with 4163 cases the year before. In 2017, on the other hand, a better result could be steered, as in the first half-year, 2422 sexual offenses were reported. Afghans are at the top of sex offenders A look at the nationalities of the suspects in...

In a surge of populist fervor, Austrian voters ousted leftist incumbents from office Sunday and swept a young conservative and his party into power. The center-right People's Party (OVP) claimed the top spot in the national elections, with 31 percent of the vote. As a result, party leader Sebastian Kurz is advancing to the chancellorship of Austria. At just 31, upon assuming office Kurz will be world's youngest national leader. After declaring victory, Kurz vowed that it's time for a change in Austria and thanked those for entrusting him to guide the country through the coming transformation, "Many people have placed great...

Sebastian Kurz's election victory last night has sent shockwaves through Europe as it appears he may seek a coalition with the country's anti-immigration Freedom Party. The Eurosceptic leader of Austria's right-leaning People's Party has declared victory in a national election that puts him on track to become the world's youngest leader. Kurz, 31, fell well short of a majority and may be looking to strike a deal with another party. The Freedom Party (FPO) got around 26 percent of votes in Sunday's parliamentary vote, boosted by a European migration crisis in 2015 that affected Austria and also led Kurz to...

VIENNA — At age 31, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is poised to become the first millennial to lead a European country following his party’s victory in a national election Sunday. While no party won a majority, the telegenic Kurz is most likely to be sworn in as Austria’s next chancellor — and Europe’s youngest leader — after the tough coalition government negotiations that lie ahead. Near-final results from Sunday’s balloting put his People’s Party comfortably in first place, with 31.4 percent of the vote. The right-wing Freedom Party came in second with 27.4 percent. The center-left Social Democratic Party...

Angela Merkel’s misguided migration policy — which allowed nearly 1 million people from Africa and the Middle East to enter Germany in 2015 — has claimed another political victim. Her centrist Christian Democratic government lost a great deal of support to the populist Alternative for Germany in last month’s election because of her mishandling of the migration flood. And today, Christian Kern, the left-wing Social Democratic chancellor of Austria, lost his job because of his own party’s involvement in opening Austria to 75,000 new migrants. Germany borders Austria, and many refugees and economic migrants entered Germany through Austria, with 75,000...

Vienna (AFP) - Austria's political "whizz-kid" Sebastian Kurz was on course Sunday to become Europe's youngest leader, potentially in coalition with the far-right, after his conservative party looked to have triumphed in elections. Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) won 30.5 percent of the vote, followed by Chancellor Christian Kern's Social Democrats (SPOe) on 27.1 percent and the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) on 25.9 percent, projections on public TV showed. Kurz, 31, nicknamed "wunderwuzzi", ("whizzkid") took over the OeVP in May and managed to attract supporters in droves by depicting himself as a breath of fresh air, talking tough on immigration and...

SEBASTIAN Kurz is expected to clinch victory in the Austria elections, according to the latest projections, which could see him form an alliance with the far right in a crushing blow for the European Union.

The flood of refugees that rolled over Europe in 2015 affected Austria more than any other country except its neighbor Germany. Today, Austrians go to the polls in parliamentary elections that could elevate a 31 year old nationalist to the chancellorship. Sebastian Kurz, the charismatic leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) left the coalition government with the Social Democrats when he was elevated to the party's top spot last May. The cause of the split was the ongoing debate over refugees in Austria, who have put a huge drain on government resources. Austria is a conservative Cathloic country and...

The country of Haydn and Mozart has had a bellyful of the countries of Mohammed: Austrians profiting from the fastest economic growth in six years look likely to ditch their current coalition in favor of a new government backed by anti-immigration nationalists and headed by the world’s youngest leader. Polls suggest that Austria’s 31-year-old Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz will lead his conservative People’s Party to victory in Sunday’s election. That could set the stage for a coalition with Heinz-Christian Strache’s populist Freedom Party, unwinding a decade of Social Democratic-led administrations that revived the economy but struggled with issues over...

A man dressed as a shark has been arrested under Austria's burka ban laws while working as a mascot outside a shop. The employee was standing outside McShark in a shark suit to advertise the new electronics store in Vienna. Police officers demanded he removed his shark head and when he refused, protesting he was 'just doing his job', they arrested him and slapped him with a fine.

AUSTRIA’s ruling party the Social Democrats (SPÖ) faces a tight battle with an anti-EU party for second place in the country's latest election news, a new poll reveals.

New restrictions come into force in Austria on Sunday banning the wearing of the full Islamic veil and other items concealing the face in public places and buildings.Exemptions "under certain conditions" include items like clown disguises "at cultural events", work wear such as medical masks, and scarves in cold weather, the government says. The restrictions are aimed at "ensuring the cohesion of society in an open society", it says. Violations will be punished with a fine of up to €150 ($177). "Acceptance and respect of Austrian values are basic conditions for successful cohabitation between the majority Austrian population and people...

As a symbol of Islamic separatism, supremacism and misogyny, the Islamic burqa is hard to beat. Outside of the mosque, it's an affront to every Judeo-Christian sensibility to see it on the streets of the West, a giant middle finger to the host culture, and a promise of more Islam to come. So good on Austria for finally taking action: A law prohibiting any kind of full-face covering, known popularly as the “Burqa Ban,” takes effect Sunday in Austria, where the strong support for it portends potential political upheaval in the upcoming national election. Parties campaigning on an anti-migrant message...

During a meet-the-voter TV show on Thursday night, a cleaning lady asked Chancellor Angela Merkel a question that raised the issue of old-age poverty — leaving her struggling to come up with an answer. “In Austria, there is a citizens’ insurance scheme. Everyone pays into it,” Petra Vogel told the Chancellor on a live show on public broadcaster ZDF on Thursday. Vogel, a cleaner in a hospital in Bochum and trade unionist, went on to explain that if Germany had this too, she would not have to live in poverty as a pensioner. After more than 40 years of work,...

Otto Wanz, the most famous wrestler in Germany and Austria during the 70s and 80s, passed away Thursday morning from what was described as a short but heavy illness. He was 74. Wanz, a powerhouse at 6-foot-2 and 380 pounds, would be best known in the United States for his run as AWA Champion in 1982. Wanz had been champion of his own Catch Wrestling Association, but was largely unknown outside of Germany and Austria. He defeated Nick Bockwinkel for the title on August 29th, 1982, in St. Paul in a match that caused lingering hard feelings between Bockwinkel and...

A middle aged woman had to be hospitalised in Vienna following a brutal beating in broad daylight by a veiled Somali asylum seeker offended by her pet dogs. The victim, named only as Ingrid T., described how she was talking with neighbours at the gate of her garden, accompanied by dogs — her deaf, almost-blind, three-legged Collie mix “sitting peacefully” alongside while 10-month-old ‘Poco’ meandered along an alleyway towards her parents’ house — when she “saw a pretty, veiled woman approaching slowly.” “I knew some people from these countries do not like dogs, so I went to Poco and wanted...

Mohammad H confessed to murdering this elderly couple in cold blood and setting fire to their house. He was first reported to have acted out of “‘hatred and political motives,’ since the couple’s son was an active member of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO).” This was all that Mohammad H told authorities about his motives. Initially, the potential motive of jihad was bypassed, even though this gruesome knife attack was committed by a Tunisian Muslim migrant who confessed to his hatred of the Freedom party. After authorities searched Mohammad H’s home and social networks, they are still withholding details, other...

VIENNA (AFP) – Austria will “very soon” impose border checks and deploy soldiers on its frontier with Italy if the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean does not slow, Vienna’s defence minister was quoted as saying Monday. “I expect that very soon border controls will be activated and that a assistance deployment (by the military) will be requested,” Hans Peter Doskozil told the online edition of the Krone daily. He was cited as saying that this move was “indispensible if the inflow into Italy does not ease”. The paper said that 750 soldiers were available and that four armoured vehicles...

The ongoing European disaster euphemistically known as the "migrant" crisis has just taken a turn for the worse -- or for the better, depending on your point of view: Italy has summoned Austria's ambassador after the government in Vienna announced it was ready to deploy border troops to block any migrant influx. Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil told Kronen Zeitung daily that troops could go to the Brenner Pass. He said four Pandur armoured personnel carriers had been sent to the Tyrol region and 750 troops were on standby. Austria has border checks with Hungary and Slovenia. But elsewhere...

Austria will “very soon” impose border checks and deploy soldiers on its frontier with Italy if the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean does not slow, Vienna's defence minister was quoted as saying. “I expect that very soon border controls will be activated and that an assistance deployment (by the military) will be requested,” Hans Peter Doskozil told the online edition of the Krone daily on Monday.