Unprecedented protest – “Sobotka must go”: even his deputy calls for his departure

During Thursday’s meeting of the National Council, Norbert Hofer, like his FPÖ party colleagues, held up a sign reading “Sobotka must go.” As the third chairman of the National Council, he is one of the deputies of the first chairman of the National Council. The fact that he is now so openly calling for the resignation of the second highest official in the republic has never happened before.

Suspected incitement to abuse of office
The allegations against Sobotka are also unprecedented. In a secretly recorded conversation, Christian Pilnacek, the late former Justice section chief, told how Sobotka had accused him of never stopping investigations against the People’s Party. Since the confession emerged, there have been calls for Sobotka to resign, and the Greens, the ÖVP’s small coalition partner, have also suggested he resign.

The Public Prosecution Service has now also become active. She is investigating the first suspicions of attempted abuse of office against the chairman of the National Council. Sobotka himself rejected the accusations in a short statement at the start of the meeting on Thursday morning. He wants to continue performing his duties.

Greens: Hats off to Sobotka
The Green Party’s deputy club leader, Meri Disoski, then said in a speech that her party had already stated “very unequivocally” several times that it would have given up on Sobotka. She thinks it is a mistake that he remains in office. The Greens see it as their job to ensure transparency and education. Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) has also set up an investigative committee.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl described the National Council chairman’s statement as “completely wrong” and an abuse of parliament. He advised Sobotka to resign, both literally and via a poster. Kickl demanded statements about the incidents from SPÖ leader Andreas Babler and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen – he is the only official in the republic above Sobotka.

SPÖ: Confidence is lost
The deputy club leader of the SPÖ, Eva Maria Holzleitner, also criticized the actions of the chairman of the National Council. Sobotka could not simply brush aside the accusations with a brief explanation, as he was the figurehead of the House as chairman of the National Council, she pointed out. Holzleitner warned that people’s trust in the institution was being lost and suggested that Sobotka consider whether it would be better for him to resign.

Christian Stocker, Secretary General of the ÖVP, also spoke out and stuck to his strategy of pointing out the illegality of starting the Pilnacek talks. He suspected that the recording had been made in connection with the FPÖ. He had previously suggested that ex-BZÖ politician Stefan Petzner was one of the ‘financiers’. He immediately denied it and threatened to sue.

NEOS: Comments “unworthy”
NEOS MP Michael Bernhard described the reactions, especially from the FPÖ and the ÖVP, as undignified. People would expect there to be work and not just arguments.