People at Küniglberg are nervous, because if a blue-black coalition is formed, there will be cuts to the public broadcaster ORF. From mandatory fees to ‘basic radio’: the ‘Krone’ knows what Herbert Kickl can actually legally enforce.
Away with the obligatory contribution of the ORF, reducing it to a “basic radio”: Herbert Kickl made the ORF an enemy during the election campaign and made all kinds of promises. Now that a Blue-Black coalition is likely, he needs to deliver – but can he even do that? The ‘Krone’ asked lawyer Mathias Burger what the legal situation was.
Household tax: “If the ÖVP agrees to abolish the household tax, nothing stands in the way,” says Burger. The premium is regulated in a ‘simple law’, which means that it can be changed within a few weeks with a simple majority of 50.1 percent. Instead, the ORF would be financed from the budget. According to Burger, it is not impossible that the tax will be abolished retroactively, but it is very unlikely.
General manager: Should Roland Weißmann fear for his position at the top of the ORF because Chancellor Kickl would rather give the job to someone else? In principle this is possible, but: Weißmann’s contract runs until the end of 2026 and by then his salary should be paid to him somehow. This is a basic salary of 380,000 euros gross per year. And then the taxpayer pays for it.
“Basic radio”: Many FPÖ voters want the ORF to focus on its core task of public service. Unlike the unpopular mandatory budget levy, this will probably remain wishful thinking: “The ORF has a constitutional status,” explains lawyer Burger, “it will therefore be difficult to reduce it to a minimum.” It will require a two-thirds majority in the National Council, which will likely be difficult to find. Certain budget savings are of course possible.
Advertising revenue: Many viewers are annoyed by advertisements on ORF. The situation will not change much under a possible black-blue government, because the ORF would be even more dependent on advertising revenue with a tighter budget.
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.
