Galina Toktalieva für die Wiener Nachrichten  (Fotoreportage)

„Mit der Strache-FPÖ haben wir nichts gemeinsam – nicht in der Vergangenheit und nicht in der Zukunft“. So hat sich Bundeskanzler Werner Faymann (SPÖ) am Freitag in seiner Rede beim Maiaufmarsch der SPÖ auf dem Wiener Rathausplatz abgegrenzt.
“Wir haben ja immer gewusst, Wien ist die Nummer 1 in Hinblick auf die Lebensqualität in der Welt. Jetzt wissen es die anderen auch!”, betonte der Wiener Bürgermeister Michael Häupl unter großem Applaus. “Wir verteidigen diese schöne Stadt!” Insgesamt fanden sich laut SPÖ rund 100.000 Menschen auf dem Rathausplatz ein. Die dominierenden Themen der Reden waren Wirtschaftskrise, Null-Lohnrunde und Steuerreform.

Heinz-Christian Strache, du bist der beste Mann!

Die FPÖ feiert den 1. Mai traditionell in einem Bierzelt beim Jahrmarkt in Linz. Heuer nutzt die FPÖ die Maifeier für den EU-Wahlkampfauftakt.
Begleitet von lautstarken Gesängen des Publikums mit dem Text “Strache, du bist der beste Mann” stellte der FP-Chef seine Partei und deren Kandidaten als einzige Alternative bei der EU-Wahl.”Rache mit Strache ist möglich”, erklärte er.
Herr Strache sprach sich erneut gegen einen EU-Beitritt der Türkei aus. “Wir wollen ein christlich-europäisches Abendland bleiben und wollen keine Islamisierung in Europa.” Kritik kam auch am amerikanischen Präsidenten Barack Obama:”Wenn er so ein Fan der Türkei sei, solle er sie zum 51. Bundesstaat machen, die Einwanderer und die Kosten übernehmen”

Михаил Хойпль – австрийский политик от социал-демократической партии. Начиная с 1994 года является бургомистром Вены.
Будучи школьником, Михаил, также как и его младший брат, являлся членом национал-освободительного юношеского движения (Pennalen Burschenschaft)
В Кремсе. После окончания гимназии, он изучал биологию и зоологию в Венском университете.
Хойпль стал бургомистром Вены 7 ноября 1994 года.
Со времени своего назначения на пост бургомистра, он выиграл три избирательные компании с возрастающим преобладанием голосов за социал-демократическую партию.

Ныне он состоит во втором браке с Хельгой Хойпль-Сайтц, с которой они живут раздельно и с которой он имеет общего сына, у него также есть дочь от первого брака. Скрытый лидер и мощная фигура в стане австрийской социал-демократии.

Yesterday website “Disclosure” had 650 pageviews and 350 unique visitors. For me it was sad and minute popularity, as I was thinking about Jörg Haider and that he looked unhappy during the last months before this accident. Photo of Michael Häupl was made by me yesterday at Rathausplatz

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.

Chancellor Gusenbauer canceled summer party

I am not in the mood to celebrate,- said Alfred Gusenbauer. He had canceled his traditional summer party. All of the invitations were forwarded, but Gusenbaeur changed his mind. 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. (more…)

Minister Doris Bures and Werner Faymann (SPOe) with Westbahnhof under reconstruction in background.
I must confess I had sent emails to representatives of all Austrian political parties offering my services as photographer, and Franz Voves – governor of Styria (SPOe) was the only one who replied. Thanks, Franz! When I photographed you, I was fantasizing how it could be to travel together with you in one compartment of Trans-Siberian express. Usually there is rather pleasant vibration in the trains