“Better than nothing” – Edtstadler wants to denounce the stalled reform of the judicial system

Edtstadler has not given up on the Freedom of Information Act, on the contrary – she says, “We are on the last few feet.” Both the abolition of official secrecy and the reform of the top commanders, combined with an increase in the rights of the suspects, have proven themselves unsolvable in the coalition in recent months, if not years.

“We still have over a year”
But Edtstadler sees no reason to throw in the towel: “We still have over a year to go. A lot can go on there.”

She believes that especially with the law on freedom of information, even if the chairman of the conference of governors, the head of state of Carinthia, Peter Kaiser (SPÖ), recently said that it could take another year before an agreement is reaches. The State Secretary hopes that this statement does not mean that the SPÖ does not want any understanding at all. A two-thirds majority is required for a decision.

In general, Edtstadler believes that it is now “common sense” that the law is needed and that Austria wants and must be a modern rule of law state. It can be assumed that she is in good conversation with all stakeholders – including the fundamentally skeptical communities. The devil is in the details.

No fines for fake news
The constitutional minister has little interest in the rumors of state security about criminalizing fake news. She would be “reluctant” to immediately threaten “with the criminal justice club”. She does not want to restrict freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The most important thing is that we as a society learn to deal with the new forms of communication such as information – and not only young people, but also adults. On the other hand, she can imagine more possibilities for the prevention of terrorism, as desired by the state security. Edstadler does not think it is right to reject measures “apocaly” here.

Edtstadler: “Red line” at Kickl
She sees the fact that voters are increasingly attracted to parties on the fringe as a result of the various crises of recent years and the seductively simple answers that extreme movements would provide. According to the minister, further training helps. She thinks that the influx to the KPÖ, for example, also has to do with the fact that many voters no longer even know what suffering communism has brought to the world.

As for future coalitions, Edtstadler has drawn her “red line” with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. But there are also “constructive forces” in the FPÖ that you can work with. With regard to the SPÖ, Edtstadler hopes that this will be consolidated before the elections to the National Council “and that constructive forces will then come to solutions for the future.” The minister considers the previous approaches of the new SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler to be “extreme”. .