Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA317
2008-03-06 07:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 04, 2008

Tags:  OPRC KPAO AU 
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DE RUEHVI #0317/01 0660724
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FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9642
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
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UNCLAS VIENNA 000317 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE

OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE

WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO AU

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 04, 2008

Fischer Admonishes Government

UNCLAS VIENNA 000317

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE

OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE

WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO AU

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 04, 2008

Fischer Admonishes Government


1. Austrian President Heinz Fischer has called on the SPOe-OeVP
coalition to "live up to the expectations" people "have placed in
it." His comments came in response to the ongoing dispute between
the two government parties, which he, too, was "quite aware of,"
Fischer stressed. A government was "not released from its
responsibility and duties simply because a majority in Parliament
has voted in favor of setting up an investigating committee," the
President underscored. Fischer added he was "prepared to emphasize
publicly that the situation is one requiring serious and successful
work from the government and the coalition parties."
According to reports in mass-circulation tabloids Kronen Zeitung and
Oesterreich, Austrian President Heinz Fischer has now raised his
voice in the ongoing conflict between the coalition parties SPOe and
OeVP. He criticized the government and stressed the two parties
should "resume their work," and clearly dismissed suggestions of a
coalition crash and the formation of a minority government. Speaking
on ORF TV"s prime time news Zeit im Bild I on Tuesday, Fischer said,
regarding the state of the coalition: "There have been difficulties
in recent times, which I am aware of, and which are a cause of
concern for many people in the country. It is now up to the
government parties to meet the expectations that have been put in
them." In an interview with the Kronen Zeitung, Fischer explained
the President "must not become part of the problem, or permit
himself to be drawn into party-policy disputes. He has to remain an
institution of calm and a person of contact for all persons
concerned. Dismissing the option of early elections, he said a
"dismissal of the government under the parties' existing ratio of
representation can only be considered in case alternatives are
available which would benefit the country." In his opinion, "there
is no reason at this point for dissolving Parliament either, even if
the situation may appear highly unpleasant and annoying." The
coalition parties' problems won't be solved if I read them the Riot
Act. What we need is getting rid of the structural differences."
Nonetheless, he was "taking the threat people might turn way from
politics out of disillusionment very seriously," Fischer

underscored. After his long silence, Fischer had been forced to
respond, particularly after Claus Reidl, the former advisor of
Wolfgang Schuessel, had urged the President to intervene,
Oesterreich argues.


Parliamentary Inquiry Takes Shape


2. Austria's political parties are close to finalizing the makeup of
a parliamentary inquiry to look into allegations of abuse of office
in the Interior Ministry. The Social Democrats and People's Party
will each be represented by six MPs, while the smaller parties, the
Greens, the FPOe and the BZOe, will be contributing one or two
members. The Freedom Party's justice spokesperson Peter Fichtenbauer
looks likely to be chosen to chair proceedings. The committee is to
look into claims of abuse of office involving People's party
ministers and top officials at the Interior Ministry, as well as
allegations of political interference and illegal surveillance of
MPs, according to ORF TV's prime time news Zeit im Bild I on
Tuesday.


Elsner Denies Knowledge of Bank Financing Of SPOe


3. Former bank BAWAG director general Helmut Elsner denied in court
that he knows anything about alleged past BAWAG financing of the
SPOe, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (OeGB) or former
supermarket chain Konsum Austria. An Austrian magazine had reported
that the former bank CEO would disclose his knowledge of such
financing during trial proceedings this week. Elsner and eight
others are on trial for fraud at the bank in the 1990s. He left the
SPOe in 2006 after fifteen years as a party member and has made no
secret of his disappointment in the party during trial proceedings.

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Meanwhile, SPOe Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and party manager Josef
Kalina have also denied any knowledge of such financing, reported
ORF TV's prime time news Zeit im Bild I on Tuesday.


"FBI Chasing Mafia Boss!"


4. ... headlines a free-of-charge mass-circulation tabloid Heute,
explaining that the "thriller" over wanted US criminal James Bulger
continues: "For years, the notorious leader of the Boston Winter
Hill Gang and serial killer had been sought by the police, but now
investigators and speaking of a breakthrough. After the Bulger case
was picked up by a European television program presenting unsolved
crime cases, more than seventy new leads, a dozen of them from
Austrian callers, have emerged. The FBI investigators have picked up
the trail," says the daily.


Turning Point in US Presidential Campaign?


5. This is the question all major Austrian media are focusing on in
their reports and analyses of yesterday's primaries in four US
states, including Texas and Ohio. In the Democratic Party, Hillary
Clinton has won in Rhode Island as well as in the key states of Ohio
and Texas. Her rival Barack Obama has won the fourth of yesterday's
primaries in Vermont. After her victory in Ohio, Clinton said her
campaign was now "back on track," but Obama pointed out he was
"still ahead in the race." Thus, despite predictions to the contrary
earlier this week, the race for the White House among the Democrats
remains open, Austrian media say.
Meanwhile, Arizona Senator John McCain has wrapped up the Republican
Party nomination for the White House following his victory in
primaries in the four states. His only rival, Mike Huckabee,
announced he was dropping out of the race.
Several Austrian media analyze the outcome of yesterday's primary
elections in four US states. ORF radio in its early morning news
Morgenjournal quotes Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton
as saying after her victory in Ohio: "This nation is coming back and
so is this campaign. The people of Ohio have said it loudly and
clearly. We're going on. We're going strong, and we're going all the
way." Her rival Barack Obama, however, emphasized despite Clinton's
victories in the key states he is still ahead in the race: "We know
this: no matter what happens tonight, we have nearly the same
delegate lead as we did this morning and we are on our way to
winning this nomination," quotes ORF radio.
Also on the Morgenjournal, radio reporter Christian Lininger says
with yesterday's results "the race between Hillary Clinton and
Barack Obama continues. In yesterday's primaries Clinton succeeded
in breaking Obama's string of victories. (...) Analysts suggest
Clinton owes her victories yesterday largely to voters who waited
until the last moment to decide. Election strategists have been
quick to come up with an explanation for this phenomenon: Clinton's
increasingly harsh attacks on Obama, such as her campaign spot
portraying him as too inexperienced to make the right decisions in a
crisis may have paid off. Analysts expect the campaign to get even
tougher now. Still, even her Texas victory has not won Clinton
enough delegates to draw level with Obama. Thus, she will only
become her party's frontrunner if the majority of the super
delegates sides with her, that is, if the party establishment
decides to back her."
Meanwhile, ORF radio foreign affairs reporter Fabio Polly suggests
the "outcome of yesterday's primaries will please one man in
particular: The Republican Party's frontrunner John McCain. He does
not have to worry about having to attack and discredit his
Democratic opponents in the race for the presidential nomination -
the two are doing the job for him. The tone between Hillary Clinton
and Barack Obama can be expected to get a lot harsher -- that's for
sure. Clinton has succeeded in halting Obama's string of victories
because recently she has stepped up her attacks considerably. Obama,
in turn will do away with the kid gloves, and with his cultured
restraint. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, needs to ask itself how
long it can endure such a breaking test, and whether it really wants
to chance a showdown at the Convention in late August. After all -
as a US columnist remarked recently -- in the end it could see
itself losing the third presidential election in a row that can't be
lost. John McCain as the laughing third in the competition between
Clinton and Obama: a nightmare for all Democrats."


Debate over Oil Output


6. OPEC oil ministers are meeting in Vienna today to discuss whether
to increase supplies. Despite oil prices of around 100 US Dollars a
barrel, a number of ministers have said they do not intend to boost
production. This is something the United States has called for. The
rising price of oil has recently also put a considerable strain on
stock markets worldwide, says ORF radio early morning news
Morgenjournal.
Kilner