FPÖ plans a lawsuit against Brunner: Who is to blame for the financial crisis?

FPÖ plans a lawsuit against Brunner: Who is to blame for the financial crisis?

Austria is faced with a worrying budget situation despite record income. The government debt rose by 22.6 billion euros last year, which focuses on the political responsibility of the former finance minister Magnus Brunner. The politician, who was recently promoted to EU Commissioner for Migration, is personally charged by the FPÖ under Herbert Kickl. Kickl and his party plan to take legal steps against Brunner, and he is given a main responsibility for the tense financial situation in the country. According to [Exxpress.at] (https://exxpress.at/news/express-live-ab-7-30-kickl-fpoe-planen-klage- against-brunner/), an indictment in front of the Constitutional Court could be considered.

Brunner resigned as a minister on November 20 of the previous year and has not had any legal consequences for his actions since then, since MPs generally do not liability for their actions. However, the possibility of personal liability or a motion for no confidence remains theoretically, as experts note. It is expected that all affected politicians will remain unborn in the current context, since the legal hurdles are high in order to act against incumbent ministers.

Public finances in focus

The growing debt is not only a problem for the political landscape, but also for the entire Austrian economy. The data from [Statistics Austria] (https://www.statistik.at/statistiken/volkswirtschaft-und-oefflicht- finance/oeffliche-finanzen/maastricht-indicator/Offlicher debt) show that the public debt is no more than 60 percent of the gross (GDP) may be. This raises serious questions about the sustainability of Austrian finances.

The financial misery is taken seriously by the Austrian government, which already examines measures to prevent the radicalization of young people. A centralized register for Islamist hate preachers is up for discussion, while the state security is also intended to provide educational work in schools. These measures are part of a more comprehensive approach to ensure internal security and the stability of the state in financially difficult times.

In an international context, the political stage also remains turbulent. At a recent funeral of the Pope, Donald Trump and Wolodymyr Selenskyj were present, which further increases the tension between the political actors. The peace talks to terminate the Ukraine War have failed again, which also complicated the already tense international situation.