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Rauscher, Hans
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Austria commemorates 1938
"We thought the matter had been cleared up for good. Then the ÖVP gave 95-year-old Otto Habsburg the opportunity to talk dangerous rubbish in parliament (!) to commemorate 1938," Hans Rauscher sums up yesterday's commemorations marking Austria's annexation. "Naturally the Austrians were partly to blame for the annexation. Among other things, because although the state leadership back then fought against the Nazis, it used weapons that guaranteed defeat. The 'great patriot' Dollfuß (Habsburg) destroyed the democracy and social democracy he would have needed to put up effective resistance. [Ex Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang] Schüssel corrected Habsburg after his speech, but Habsburger's playing down of the crimes ... which were greeted with laughter and wild applause by the ÖVP audience, shows how little has really been clarified."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Austria
Can a woman veiled from head to toe testify in court?
The Muslim principal defendant in Austria's terrorist trial wants to testify, but only if she is allowed to wear a burqa. She is now to be barred from the trial on the grounds that Austria is not a theocracy and the jury must be able to see the facial expressions of the defendant in order to form its judgement. Hans Rauscher expresses concern: "In a trial against terrorists, evidence should be the main factor, not the subjective impressions of the jury. This is too often the case as it is. ... The accused obviously wanted to give testimony, although wearing a burqa. It would have been a different matter if she had wanted to remain silent. But now she won't be able to defend herself in person. It's her own fault? That may be, but the court is also depriving itself of a source of information: what is her world view, to what extent is she dependent on her husband, who is also standing trial? We won't hear it from her. This is bad for her, but also bad for the quest for truth."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Crime and Law, » Austria
Care emergency in Austria
According to the latest statistics there are around 40,000 carers and nurses working illegally in Austria. Most of them come from East European countries. Austrian carers and nurses are too expensive for many people in need of care. Hans Rauscher calls for a pragmatic solution to the crisis in the health care sector. "This government's 'immigrant policy' refuses entry to people who are not what they call 'key workers' – regardless of EU membership. The trade unions, having nothing else to worry about, bring charges against these 'illegals' and threaten to deprive those in need of care of their only means of support. The authorities, much to their credit, are reacting sensibly. Now what we need is for this common sense to trickle down to government and the trade unions."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Health Policy, » Migration, » Austria
The elections in Italy
Hans Raucher is appalled that Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel wished Silvio Berlusconi "all the best, dear Silvio" in the election campaign. "Berlusconi is a bad European because he doesn't care about Europe but is only out for his own interests. If he is re-elected, it will be a disaster for Italy, which is already tottering on the edge of democracy, and also for Europe because it would set a bad example. What could possibly have induced Schüssel to give this dangerous charlatan such a warm-hearted recommendation in the election campaign? It's all the more shocking if you take into account that most other Christian Democratic parties are giving Berlusconi the cold shoulder in view of the fact that his rival Romano Prodi is an upright left-wing Catholic who's succeeded in repairing Italy's finances and getting the country ready for the euro."
» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Italy
Prison sentence for 'Holocaust denier' David Irving
In his column, Hans Rauscher says that those who argue that neo-Nazis are also entitled to freedom of speech are "mostly people who haven't had much to do with them. (...) The popular argument that 'crimes of opinion' can't be punished is unfounded. 'Holocaust deniers' like David Irving have no 'opinion'. They know – or they can if they want to – that these terrible crimes were committed and how they were committed. But they want to deny them, trivialise them and make them politically acceptable. That's the crucial point. Those who constantly play down the crimes of National Socialism and go to great trouble to find arguments to support their theories want to see it reinstalled as a political alternative. This is nothing less than the reactivation of National Socialism."
» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » History, » Austria
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