NEOS insists – should Selenskyj go to the House of Representatives – or better not?

How divided the domestic parliamentary parties interpret Austrian neutrality became apparent a few weeks ago in an actually unspectacular discussion at the presidential session of the National Council: a suggestion by NEOS to allow the Ukrainian president to speak in parliament failed – because of the skepticism of the SPÖ and the Nyet of the liberals.

New Start for Video Link Invitation
But now that devastating war images from Bucha have passed around the world and Chancellor Karl Nehammer has visited Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, the omens are different, the NEOS think – and are therefore making another attempt at next week’s presidential meeting to to invite the President of Ukraine. Now Selenskyj needs to be given a podium “more than ever” to describe his country’s situation, says NEOS deputy club boss Nikolaus Scherak – “especially after Russia’s horrific war crimes in Bucha”. Scherak wants to discuss what this means for Austria – and the severity of the sanctions – on the basis of the Ukrainian president’s statements in the National Council. The speech would take place via video link.

Sobotka wants approval from all parties
Or not at all: because the whole thing is still improbable despite everything. National Council chairman Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) said all parties in the presidential committee would have to agree to such a speech. And while the SPÖ probably wouldn’t stand in the way of the request, the FPÖ continues to block it. As an investigation showed, the PVV still sees no reason why this invitation should be extended.