Erstellt am: 3. 8. 2015 - 13:07 Uhr

"Not in my back yard"

Reality Check: Slovakian town rejects asylum plan, Kathrin Nachbaur und Rouven Ertlschweiger leave Stronach for the ÖVP.

Just two weeks ago, the Austrian government sealed a bilateral deal under which Slovakia would take 500 asylum seekers from Austria's over-loaded centre in Traiskirchen.

The plan is, that these 500 refugees should be housed in university accommodation close to the picturesque small town of Gabcikovo, on the Danube river, near to the Hungarian border.

apa/Walter Longauer

However, the locals have other ideas, and over the weekend they overwhelmingly rejected the proposal in a referendum. While the town was previously sympathetic to refugees from the Bosnian and Kosovan wars, the people are reluctant to take in refugees from more distant cultures in Africa and the Middle East. They also say that a refugee camp would scupper their ambitions to develop their town into a profitable tourist destination.

Anka Dragu of Slovakian Radio has been to meet the local residents and explains their concerns.

ÖVP boosted by Stronach defectors

The defections of Team Stronach members of parliament to the ÖVP is threatening to undermine the government.

APA/Hans Punz

Kathrin Nachbaur und Rouven Ertlschweiger have become the latest former members of Team Stronach to turn to the ÖVP.

Political analyst, Melanie Sully, explains the implications of the shift in power balance between the coalition partners.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Saturday from 12.00 to 13.00 and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.