FPÖ demands U-Committee: Who is behind ÖVP-power abuse?

FPÖ demands U-Committee: Who is behind ÖVP-power abuse?

Wien, Österreich - On May 21, 2025, a special meeting of the National Council took place in which the FPÖ applied for an investigation committee. The focus is on the political influence of members of the ÖVP and the government's corona measures. ots.at reports that Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker was represented in this meeting by State Secretary Alexander Pröll.

The FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, accuses the ÖVP of abuse of power and claims that critics were encountered like enemies of the state during the corona pandemic. Secretary General Christian Hafenecker underpins the allegations with the concept of a "deep black state", which is embodied by the ÖVP. As part of the application, the death of the former judicial leader Christian Pilnacek, who is considered worthy of clarification by the FPÖ.

reactions in the National Council

The reactions to the FPÖ application were shared. While the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS criticize the object of investigation as a confusion, the Greens still find the Causa Pilnacek worth checking. Nico Marchetti from the ÖVP describes the application of the FPÖ as "confused war" and assumes the party a demonization of the ÖVP. Maximilian Köllner from the SPÖ calls for a comprehensible reason for the application, while Muna Duzdar, also SPÖ, supports the necessary clarification of abuse of power, but criticizes the FPÖ.

The Greens also express their concerns and warn of an all -round, in which increasingly conspiracy theoretical approaches can be found. Sigrid Maurer describes the committee of inquiry as an important control instrument and calls for comprehensive information, especially when it comes to the Causa Pilnacek. Gernot Darmann from the FPÖ calls for clarification of the corona measures, which in his opinion have not been adequately illuminated.

The role of the committees of investigation

The FPÖ argues that the intimidation of critics by the ÖVP did not remove the media, since these would be controlled by advertisements and other grants. However, Pröll countered by repeatedly referring to the information published and describing the claim of conspiracy theories by the FPÖ as absurd. The debate in the National Council hardly shows a view of simple solutions, rather it illustrates the deep split between the political camps.