Austria is one of the last EU countries to offer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the chance to address Parliament today. The head of state gives his speech via video, after which a debate is scheduled. The FPÖ rejects the appearance and wants to protest against it.
In the plenum immediately following the event with Zelenskyj’s speech, Ukrainians will then be given unrestricted access to the Austrian labor market. In addition, access to the red-white-red card is made easier again, this time for seasoned regulars. In the beginning, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) is a guest at Question Time.
The suspension of the first staggered pension adjustment after retirement – the so-called aliquoting – for two years, which was announced by the ÖVP and the Greens on Wednesday, has also been decided in an amendment to the General Social Insurance Act (ASVG). From May it will be easier for retirees to get a loan. A new criminal offense for “terrorist threat” is also established.
Second address addressed to Austria
When the Ukrainian president addresses the National Council via video on Thursday, it will be the second time that Zelenskyy has addressed Austria. At the end of June he addressed an Austrian audience live as part of the 4Gamechangers Festival in Vienna’s Marx Halle. He thanked those “who understand who is responsible for this war”. He defended sanctions against Russia and warned of a “migration tsunami” from Africa.
After the war started, Zelenskyy was able to speak in the parliaments of almost all 27 EU countries. This has not been the case so far in Bulgaria, which is in permanent crisis and is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday for the fifth time in two years. In Sofia, pro-Russian parties prevented such an advance, arguing that the Bulgarian parliament should first elect a government. Even in Hungary, which is considered Russia-friendly, Zelenskyy has not been invited to parliament.
Speech failed because of the FPÖ – now critical
In Austria, last March’s NEOS initiative to invite Selenskyj to give a video address failed due to opposition from the FPÖ. Instead of Zelenskyj, Ukrainian parliament speaker Ruslan Stefantschuk finally appeared in parliament in mid-June.
Now Chairman of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) formally invited Selenskyj for a virtual speech in parliament. Officially, the statement will not take place during the session of the National Council, but at a “parliamentary event” leading up to the plenary session. After that, the clubs can speak out.
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl spoke of “sleight of hand”. He criticized the “president of a belligerent nation” being allowed use of the National Council meeting room and announced a protest. The FPÖ will not contribute to this “attack on Austria’s neutrality”.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
