Scandal in the National Council: FPÖ and Greens are baked in verbal battles!

Scandal in the National Council: FPÖ and Greens are baked in verbal battles!

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, an excited meeting of the National Council took place, which was strongly shaped by a heated integration debate. In this context, there were verbal derailments between MPs from the FPÖ and the Greens, which raised the questions about the current culture of debate in parliament again. The National Council President Walter Rosenkranz, himself from the FPÖ, was forced to give orders to both Hermann Brückl and Werner Kogler. Brückl described the integration as the "only pile of shards" and attacked the ÖVP in this context, while Kogler accused him of incitement. In the meeting, fundamental disagreements between the parties for integration also became clear.

The accusation of Christoph Steiner (FPÖ) was particularly noteworthy, other parties are "to blame for mass rapes". This serious claim caused further tensions in the plenary and strengthened the criticism of the sound and rhetoric in the National Council. Neos club chairman Yannick Shetty expressed his dissatisfaction with the chairmanship of the Rosary and criticized the insufficient control of the processes. The President of the National Council, Walter Rosary, was criticized for his hesitant action, which once again focused on debate culture.

order calls and their effect

The parliamentary discussion has become rougher since the last National Council election in autumn 2019. Over 200 order calls have been distributed since then, with the majority of the FPÖ. According to orf.at . the number of parliamentary complaints is constant at just under 50 per year. Political scientist Markus Wagner observes this rough tone and refers to a generally social brutalization that is reinforced by social media. In the latest examples, FPÖ club boss Herbert Kickl and other MPs were also criticized for offensive and degrading statements.

A look at the history shows that orders are deeply rooted in parliamentary culture. This practice originated in the imperial period when male was spreading debates. The National Council presidents decide on these complaints to protect the dignity of the house, and the application of orders is at the discretion of the president. However, critics question the need for such complaints, since they have no direct consequences and therefore often appear ineffective.

parliamentary debate culture in focus

The current debate not only illustrates the political differences, but also throws a light on the challenges of parliamentary communication. parlament.gv.at discusses the topics related to orders and their influence on the debate culture in the National Council. The inclusion of history and current examples shows that despite the existing rules, frustration about the tone does not decrease. Former politicians such as Heinz Fischer and Johannes Jarolim discuss the importance of orders and the desire for a more respectful approach.

Overall, the session of the National Council shows the pressing questions about integration policy last Thursday and the possibly harmful culture of debate, which urgently need to address. The discussion about rhetoric and its consequences will certainly also play a central role in the upcoming meetings.