As is known, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler’s green ‘yes’ against the EU Renaturation Act brought coalition partner ÖVP to the barricades. The Chancellery announced an appeal for annulment to the European Court of Justice and a complaint for abuse of office. In an interview with the “Krone”, the Chancellor now adds more.
“Kron”: Mr. Chancellor, was it not foreseeable that Leonore Gewessler would do what she had actually announced?
Karl Nehammer: No, as chancellor of a government I assume that ministers adhere to the constitution and the law. And in my opinion, it is never to be expected that ideology and populist actionism will be linked and placed above the constitution, because then governing would be fundamentally impossible.
There are no good opportunities to report abuse of office, because it is intentional. And she probably got that out of the way with her reports…
I think there are three levels. The first level is the violation of the law that has been committed. There is an agreement between the state governors that has been ignored. There are clear rules on how ministers in the European Union vote when the issue concerns multiple ministries. Several advertisements have now been announced, as well as an annulment procedure at the European Court of Justice. Here a minister went to the Council with a vote that had not been agreed within the country, as required by law. Therefore, the vote was not legal.
Why don’t you fire her?
My job as Chancellor is to lead the government in an orderly manner until September 29. This is what I promised people and I will keep this promise. I still find the minister’s behavior unacceptable. Now, on September 29, voters will have the opportunity to vote and assess their behavior. What I want to avoid is chaos, as we have often experienced in Austria. In the so-called game of free forces, electoral treaties can be decided that cost billions and then burden people financially for decades – because they pay for it.
Would the Chancellor need a leadership authority like we have in Germany?
I think the Constitution is in a good place. What no legal system on its own can prevent is someone breaking the law. That can happen. And that is what happened in this case.
Will you exclude Gewessler from joining the government in the future, as well as FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl?
The elections are on September 29. The minister has damaged Austria’s reputation, but especially its credibility in politics. Clearly, moral standards are lost somewhere along the way when the Constitution and the law are violated.
If you cross a red line as a child and there are no sanctions, you also cross the next red line. Why should the Greens adhere to the side letter to the ÖVP Commissioner’s proposal?
My experience with Werner Kogler so far is that he has stuck to what we agreed. The agreement also includes a signature from Werner Kogler.
Are you in consultation with countries that also continue to take action against the renaturation regulation?
It was a very close decision in this council. Of course we have allies like Sweden, Finland and many others who, like us, already practice strong nature and environmental protection, but who are just as badly affected by this over-bureaucratization and over-regulation.
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.
