ORF discussion canceled: Criticism of dealing with Corona decisions is growing

ORF discussion canceled: Criticism of dealing with Corona decisions is growing

In the recent discussion about the Corona measures, ORF has canceled a planned discussion round, which ensures considerable controversy. Originally, the ORF Lower Austria wanted to carry out the event "Five Years Corona - Facts and Mistakes", which should offer an exciting platform for different opinions, including the critical voices of activists such as Martin Rutter. But after the invited experts, virologist Norbert Nowotny and intensive care physician Christoph Hörmann, had withdrawn their participation at short notice, ORF only remained the cancellation. This decision triggered outraged reactions at the FPÖ, especially from its media spokesman Christian Hafenecker. He criticized the censorship and the lack of willing ORF to enable an honest debate and described the broadcaster as an extended arm of the "unit party". According to Hafenecker, the cancellation shows that the ORF is suppressing critical voices and thus playing its right to exist, as well as Exxpress.at reports.

The cancellation of the event was justified by Nowotny by not wanting to be part of a discussion that only offers a platform. He concludes that a factual debate with Rutter is not possible according to his statements on Telegram. The virologist therefore expressed concerns that the neutral intention of the ORF to bring different perspectives together cannot be implemented. Rutter, on the other hand, who sharply criticized the cancellation, even called for a review of Nowotny's chair at the University of Vienna, since his opinion was not compatible with scientific and freedom of expression. "The lack of processing fits the lack of discussion culture about mistakes and facts about Corona," continued Rutter. The FPÖ announced that it would be active in the future to advance the discussion about the Corona measures and therefore plans its own program on the topic, while the discussion is still in ORF, as well as ots.at reported.