At the end of January, Lena Schilling read from her book “Radikale Wende” at a high school in Vienna. Two months later, a parliamentary question from the FPÖ was answered. Critical questions from students would then also be allowed.
Moreover, the lecture for the Green top candidate for the EU elections was already scheduled for September 2023. Schilling’s candidacy was finally announced on January 22, 2024. The Viennese secondary school then explicitly asked the education directorate for approval for the event.
Not prohibited during election campaigns
Performances by politicians at schools are in principle not prohibited, not even during election campaigns. They just must not degenerate into election events. According to the Ministry of Education, this means that appearances should not represent indoctrination or that different topics and the political party landscape should be depicted. This way, a different party could have its say every week.
The ministry is currently investigating whether these rules have been violated and whether there will be any consequences. The event on January 31, 2024 at a Viennese high school was moderated externally by a journalist. Critical questions were allowed. The school management and teaching staff were also present.
FPÖ: “Green indoctrination”
In any case, the FPÖ considers Schilling’s lecture as “a very special example of green indoctrination.” “An education directorate simply cannot achieve something like this. “There was not even an attempt to invite candidates from other parties to this event to give everyone the same opportunities,” criticized FPÖ education spokesman Hermann Brückl.
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.
