The fact that the NEOS are against an extension of the corruption inquiry commission of the ÖVP is surprising to the other factions. He has the impression that the NEOS “serve the ÖVP”, said FPÖ mandatary Christian Hafenecker on Saturday. Kai Jan Krainer of the SPÖ regretted that the NEOS “left the common path of enlightenment”. The Greens aren’t too keen either, wanting Kurz & Co’s “cuddle course with Putin.” to research.
NEOS faction chair Stephanie Krisper announced in a newspaper interview on Saturday that her group “would not support” an extension of the U-committee. Krisper argued the problem was now clear anyway — “rather than dealing with more individual cases in the U-committee,” the time should now be used for reform, she demanded. An extension is not possible without the NEOS, who were part of the political groups that set up the committee. The last interviews with respondents will therefore take place on 7 December.
“Not discussed with colleagues”
This apparently did not agree with the other groups: “I find it strange that this is not discussed among colleagues, but that you have to know about it through the media,” FPÖ faction leader Hafenecker told the APA. “I believe that many matters still need to be clarified”, for example in the field of the Ministry of the Interior, but also in the field of justice. “I have the impression that the NEOS is slowly but surely serving the ÖVP – you have to take that into account,” said Hafenecker. The FPÖ will in any case put all its energy into the committee until December and continue the educational work well.
“I regret that the NEOS are leaving the common path of enlightenment,” SPÖ faction leader Krainer said on Twitter. “In any case, we will continue, even if it gets more difficult.”
Greens want to investigate short circles of power
GroenLinks leader Nina Tomaselli was also not enthusiastic. “From our point of view, the recipe for the great deception by Sebastian Kurz (ex-ÖVP boss and chancellor, take note) and his circle of power consisted of three basic ingredients: fake surveys distributed to the people through alleged advertising, corruption, special treatment for super-rich friends and Postenschacher on a large scale”, Tomaselli was again aggressive against the coalition partner. “The corruption inquiry commission of the ÖVP could find and prove in the files numerous proofs of the great deception of Sebastian Kurz,” she emphasized. Certain chapters can be completed in December.
However, more questions arose over the course of the subcommittee, Tomaselli said, the most pressing of which was “Kurz & Co.’s sociability with Putin, which has greatly increased the unbearable dependence on Russian gas.” If the current commission of inquiry ended, the Greens would “very much welcome” a new Russia-U commission, Tomaselli said, “to clarify political responsibility for the current energy woes”.
Two extensions possible
The Subcommittee to Clear Up Allegations of Corruption Against ÖVP Government Members was established in December 2021 by the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS. According to the rules of procedure, the duration of the subcommittee is generally limited to 14 months; an extension of two times with three months each is possible. After the witness hearings have been completed, reports are drawn up – the committee then ends with submission to the National Council.
Source: Krone
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
