Alfred Gusenbauer looking at legs of Doris Bures

It was election campaign event in Vienna Stadthalle, which attracted thousands of people who expressed their support for social democrats prime candidate Werner Faymann.
I talked to a few ordinary persons who enjoyed themselves in buffet of concert hall during the speech of Werner Faymann looking at the screen of big monitor with his face, and all of them described Faymann as nice lad, at the same time all of them aware of the fact that nobody must take election promises of social democrats at earnest. My confidants also noticed that a lot of money was invested in this election campaign for rivers of beer, wine, sandwiches and souvenirs with expectations that Austrians would give their voices for those who once generously let them to become drunk.
All photographers were seized with mass psychosis of depicting and pursuing Werner Faymann. At the same time many others not less interesting figures of Austrian social democracy didn’t get sufficient attention they deserved.
Those who stay out of the circle of crowd’s blind admiration often look much more interesting without their usual protecting mask.
Personally for me, Gusenbauer presents more inner power, than Werner Faymann. Perhaps because he has much more experience.

Chef of styrian social-democrats is for coalition with ÖVP

Styrian SPÖ Governor Franz Voves has spoken up in support of governing coalition with the ÖVP.

Voves said: “I was and I am a supporter of this coalition. I think that it is the best solution for the next five-ten years.”

Franz Voves - former ice-hockey national team player refused to comment on whether the SPÖ should continue such cooperation in case it fails to receive the most votes in the 28 September election. Voves dismissed talk about possible election outcomes as mere speculation at the moment.

In contrast to some other SPÖ leaders, the 55-year-old Voves stressed the point that he would not exclude any party from talks about a possible coalition.

Voves expects that the SPÖ will be number one on 28 September due to new SPÖ leader Werner Faymann, which has beén “fantastic” in Styria.

Thomas Hochwarter, Austrian Times, 12.08.08.

Съёмка Вернера Файмана
(shooting with social-democrats leader Werner Faymann)
Вначале я ринулась на пресс-конференцию „зелёных“, где оказалась единственным фотографом. Все репортёры караулили у дверей штаб-квартиры социалистов, когда появится Файман.
Лидер „зелёных“ – симпатичный пожилой дяденька в красной кофточке. Рядом восседает его соратник и партийный активист, которого я видела на манифестации „голубых“. (more…)

Alfred Gusenbauer, the tenth chancellor in the history of the Second Austrian Republic, will be remembered for his short time in that position.
Gusenbauer has been Chancellor for 545 days. With an early general election likely to be held by the end of September, he will have been Chancellor for slightly more than 700 days before stepping down.

Austrian Times, 08.07.08

We were waiting for a long time outside of social democrats party quarters. It rained.
When at last we were let in, it was hard to find the place to photograph, as reporters and TV operators stood like a wall. One of securities shoved me, when I tried to cross the room behind the backs of three party leaders.
Gusenbauer looked much older than two month before when I last photographed him, and he was throwing nervous side-long glances at journalists. Everybody who takes position of responsibility must be prepared his achievement and smallest failures will be equally magnified, when he gains power and loses it.

Chancellor Gusenbauer canceled summer party

” I am not in the mood to celebrate”,- said Austria’s chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. He had canceled his traditonal summer party.

All of the invitations were forwarded, but Gusenbaeur changed his mind and blew off the celebrations.
Last year this event was a full success.

One year later the situation is totally different. Gusenbauer seems to be at the low point of his political career. The party comrades are discussing his overthrow.

The Socialdemocratic party in Austria is in a big crisis, and their chancellor got the blame for it. Gusenbauer cannot hide his anger and disappointment about this situation. This makes it impossible for him to host a fancy celebration, and smile into cameras.

One million Austrian men are impotent

According to an article on the website of the Austrian Broadcasting, one million Austrian men are impotent (more…)