ÖVP in the crossfire: Delay of the U-Committee on Corona policy!

ÖVP in the crossfire: Delay of the U-Committee on Corona policy!

The question of the establishment of an investigation committee (U-Committee) for the investigation of alleged abuse on the part of the ÖVP is in the room. Although a quarter of the MPs can request such a committee according to current procedural order, the parties are disagreed with the implementation and the associated legal requirements. This could lead to delays, reports ots .

The FPÖ has requested a U-committee to the "Fall Pilnacek" and Corona policy. Andreas Hanger from the ÖVP expresses concerns. He sees the need for a clear definition of the object of the investigation and questions whether the FPÖ request meets this claim because it mixes conspiracy theories. Douglas Hoyos-Trauttmansdorff from the Neos and Kai Jan Krainer from the SPÖ also criticize the lack of connection in the FPÖ application and promise to check it carefully. Sigrid Maurer from the Greens is skeptical about the Corona theme in the application. Dagmar Belakowitsch from the FPÖ describes the U-Committee as "more than necessary" and has sharp criticism of the ÖVP by denouncing power abuse in corona policy.

The process of application

The Procedure Committee now has eight weeks to examine the formal correctness of the application. During this time, the FPÖ could call the Constitutional Court for differences. Statistically speaking, there have been 29 U-committees in the second republic, 8 of which were initiated according to the procedural order that has been in force since 2015, the others due to a minority request.

Christian Hafenecker, General Secretary of the FPÖ, sees the need for a U-committee as a way to clarify the system of the ÖVP he describes as a “power apparatus”. He calls for a comprehensive examination of the circumstances of the Pilnacek Falls and the decisions during Corona pandemic. For Hafenecker, the U-Committee is the last line of defense of democracy, and he criticizes the ÖVP sharply for its handling of reviews on the Corona measures. He describes Austria as a "historical low" and warns of the consequences of an emerging authoritarian state.

rights and obligations in the U-Committee

For a U-Committee, all organs of the federal and state governments such as mayors or state governments are obliged to publish documents. Chambers and other self -government bodies also have to provide documents. Information persons can be invited and interviewed, whereby people who refuse can be demonstrated. The Federal Administrative Court has the option of imposing a slope, and the submission of files can also be requested by a quarter of the members, such as parlament.gv.at emphasized.

Hafenecker appeals to the SPÖ and the NEOS not to be influenced by the ÖVP and to defend democracy. In his opinion, resistance to the U-Committee would protect the existing system of the ÖVP and endanger the basic democratic values.

Overall, the development to clarify the committee of inquiry to clarify possible abuse of power in the ÖVP. The conversations between the political groups are of fundamental importance for the political landscape of Austria.