Growing skepticism: citizens are calling for more transparency and truth!

Growing skepticism: citizens are calling for more transparency and truth!

Wien, Österreich - On May 21, 2025, a live discussion will take place on ExxpresstV, which deals with the growing skepticism of citizens towards elections and elected governments. The youth researcher Bernhard Heinzlmaier and the Secretary General of the FPÖ, Christian Hafenecker, will take part in the discussion. The event is moderated by Volker Piesczek. A central topic will be perception that democratic will is often ignored or avoided, in particular by the influence of national governments that feel powerless against judgments from Brussels, NGOs and economic interest groups. According to Exxpress.at, this is an increasing problem in the current political landscape.

The discussion will also illuminate the criticism of two former ministers of the Greens, Leonore Gewessler and Alma Zadić. Gewessler is exposed to allegations of incorrectly presented an expert opinion on the Lobau tunnel, while Zadić has to answer questions about a donation affair of a left-wing NGO. These allegations throw a light on the credibility of transparency and fairness within the Greens, which could increase the already skeptical mood among the population.

disinformation as a serious threat

This year there are numerous elections worldwide, including the elections for the European Parliament in June. According to a report by the European Union External Action Service (EEAS), targeted disinformation campaigns by foreign actors, especially Russia, are a serious threat. The EEAS reports of 750 cases of targeted disinformation, which were primarily directed against Ukraine, but also affected the USA, Germany and Poland. As part of these campaigns, gender-specific disinformation is also distributed against the LGBTQ community. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign officer, describes disinformation as a "poison" that attacks thinking and calls it one of the greatest security threats today. This is in accordance with [DW.com] (https://www.dw.com/de/europahlahlen-im-von-von-von- Desinformationkampagnen/A-6098170), which indicate that almost half of the global population is called up and is therefore particularly susceptible to such strategies.

The events about disinformation are not only a regional matter, but also have global dimensions. Over 60 elections are planned in 2024, which reinforces the fear of continued targeted disinformation campaigns. The EU plans to use the Digital Services Act against the spread of false information. This draft law obliges digital platforms to reduce the manipulation potential of their offers and thus promote an informed electorate, as bpb.de. Enlightenment about disinformation is considered crucial to prevent polarizations in the companies.