In view of the latest developments in the ÖVP affair, the Greens are again pushing for stricter legal rules against corruption. The anti-corruption criminal law has been with the ÖVP for some time and “may be decided at any time,” Green Club chairman Sigrid Maurer said in the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal” on Friday. “The Chancellor (Karl Nehammer, ÖVP, note) will have to keep his promises regarding transparency.”
The Green Justice Minister Alma Zadic presented new regulations about a year ago, which should no longer make it possible to buy mandates – they have not yet been implemented. The ÖVP club told Ö1 that intensive work is being done on the anti-corruption law.
Van der Bellen: ‘It can’t all be true’
In view of the ÖVP affair, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen addressed the public on Thursday and demanded a “general restoration of confidence” from politicians. In a statement in the president’s office, he described corruption as a “crippling poison”. Measures should be taken to ensure that those responsible in politics are fully able to act and to restore confidence in politics. According to the Federal President, confidence in democracy in Austria has again been shaken enormously. “I also see what is happening and I think to myself: this can’t all be true,” said Van der Bellen.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the video
Nehammer: ‘I take the Federal President’s words very seriously’
Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) reacted coolly to Van der Bellen’s request. On Friday evening, on the fringes of the EU summit in Brussels, the chancellor said he took Van der Bellen’s words “very seriously”, but at the same time described price increases and inflation as “real problems for the people”. Transparency is important for the ÖVP, he assured.
Within the ÖVP, they started “a long time ago” to “make sure we can be transparent faster and easier,” said Nehammer. At the same time, he referred to creating a legal framework for greater transparency and specifically mentioned media and party funding.
Red-Blue calls for a special session
Meanwhile, the SPÖ and FPÖ on Friday tabled a joint motion for a special session of the National Council on the subject. It is not yet known when the meeting will take place. The SPÖ will in any case submit a new election application.
Source: Krone
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