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Greens about to leave the Federal Council: parliamentary group status in danger!
The Greens will lose their parliamentary group status in the Federal Council after the Styria election. What does this mean for democracy?
Greens about to leave the Federal Council: parliamentary group status in danger!
The Greens are facing a dramatic change in the Federal Council! On December 19, 2024, the party lost its parliamentary group status after it was only able to win four seats in the last state election in Styria. This loss has far-reaching consequences: With fewer than five mandates, the Greens will be excluded from participating in important committees in the future and will lose their voice within the presidential conference, which significantly limits their influence on federal politics. This decision was made at a meeting in which the majority of the Federal Council did not approve a request from the Greens for parliamentary group status meinkreis.at reported.
Loss of influence
Parliamentary group status represents an essential position for parties in the Federal Council to achieve their political goals and actively participate in legislation. The ÖVP parliamentary group leader Harald Himmer explained that due to the splitting of votes with the FPÖ, unanimity was required for approval, which is no longer present. The FPÖ MP Andreas Arthur Spanring joined this argument by citing financial reasons that speak against supporting the Greens' motion. At the same time, this meant a clear rejection of previous practices, which stated that faction status was also granted for four mandates. An unprecedented novelty since 2003, when such applications almost exclusively benefited the Greens ots.at explained.
The managing club leader of the Green Party, Sigrid Maurer, warned of the serious consequences of the loss, which would massively restrict the party's right to have a say: "We will simply be slowed down." Their warnings make it clear that the situation is viewed as a “democratic attack,” especially since the FPÖ expressed its opposition. Despite resistance from the FPÖ, the Greens are hoping for support from the SPÖ and NEOS in order to maintain their status. Now it remains to be seen how the voting ratios in the Bundesrat will develop and whether the Greens can actually win the support of the other parties.