“Just don’t want to” – government defaults in the fight against corruption

breach of word. A serious accusation. In fact, politicians have been promising important laws or at least drafts in sensitive areas for months. But happened – nothing. At the end of March, the first quarter of 2022 ended. And at most new weapons or plans for the fight against corruption are in a drawer.

Karoline Edtstadler, ÖVP Minister for the Constitution and the EU, announced in July 2020 in the National Council that she planned to present a draft for a long-requested Freedom of Information Act shortly. In November 2021, she repeated this request via broadcast. So far no implementation in sight. It will be evaluated and tested, they say.

Alma Zadic, Federal Minister of Justice (Greens), promised via a broadcast on January 2, 2022 that “the gaps in criminal law on corruption will be closed shortly” and announced “the draft to strengthen criminal law on corruption for the first quarter “. One searches in vain. When asked by the “Krone”, the ministry said that a concept had been around for months and that the ÖVP was available. Central to this is the purchase of mandates, which should be punishable by law. But the ÖVP blocks it, you hear from green circles. However, the Turks say that an agreed evaluation from the Ministry of Justice is still lacking. Which in turn denies – that already existed. Conclusion here too: no implementation in sight. Both sides confirm talks for this week.

In January, Susanne Raab, Minister of Women, Family, Integration and Media (ÖVP), announced a “catalogue of measures by the federal government for the reorganization of media financing” calling for “stricter criteria in the allocation of advertisements” and the highest possible degree of “transparency and traceability”. This too is still under investigation.

Constitutional lawyer Mayer with harsh criticism
This, of course, has drawn strong criticism, not only from the opposition, but especially from representatives of the anti-corruption referendum, which will take place in the first week of May. Among them well-known people such as the former Supreme Judge Irmgard Griss, constitutional lawyer Heinz Mayer or the renowned anti-corruption fighter Martin Kreutner. Already on December 9, 2021, the Global Anti-Corruption Day, a public appeal was made to the federal government to make the fight against corruption one of the central goals.

Now the pressure is back. The time of announcements is over. Constitutional attorney Mayer finds clear words about the “Krone” delays: “They just don’t want it. The greens hide behind the blacks. They hide behind the federal states. It says: The Freedom of Information Act needs to be reviewed. What is it that takes so long? This has been on the agenda for a long time. And it is not being carried out.” The same goes for official secrecy. There must finally be transparency. And a change to the leniency notice that makes it easier for people to contact the authorities. The anti-corruption referendum contains 24 points. Michael Ikrath, former ÖVP politician and one of the organizers of the request, says: “The government only needs to copy the points 1:1.”