ÖVP and SPÖ Review FPÖ's Request for Investigative Committee

The request from the Freedom Party (FPÖ) for the establishment of an investigative committee has been submitted to the National Council. Currently, legal experts from both the People's Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats (SPÖ) are evaluating whether the proposed investigation complies with constitutional standards. Sources from both factions indicated that there's a possibility the request may be rejected in the rules committee, which could lead the FPÖ to seek a review from the Constitutional Court; however, no date for such a review has been set.

The proposed committee seeks to investigate two primary issues: the circumstances surrounding the death of former Justice Section Chief Christian Pilnacek and the government's COVID-19 measures. The FPÖ accuses the ruling party of intimidating critics in both instances. A central theme of their request involves alleged attempts to silence dissenting voices, purportedly led by the Ministry of the Interior.

During a special session of the National Council convened by the FPÖ, almost all other political parties expressed criticism regarding the breadth of the topics presented, with only the Greens showing some interest in the Pilnacek case. Most factions labeled the discussions surrounding COVID-19 measures as conspiracy theories, indicating a lack of substantive alliances on the topics raised. Nevertheless, the FPÖ, utilizing its minority rights, has managed to put forward the request for the committee on its own.

Despite facing criticism, the FPÖ maintains that their request meets the constitutional requirements concerning the execution of federal duties, the definiteness of the inquiry, and the direct correlation to their demand. Andreas Hanger from the ÖVP stated that they would conduct a thorough review to ensure adherence to constitutional norms. Similarly, Jan Krainer from the SPÖ confirmed that their legal team is also examining the details of the request.

The rules committee is tasked with making decisions based on a simple majority, utilizing constitutional benchmarks to assess the proposed investigation's validity. The committee holds the authority to invite experts for oral or written statements but cannot alter the scope of the inquiry. However, it remains an option for the FPÖ to amend their request within the rules committee to avoid involving the Constitutional Court.

In addition to this, the FPÖ is preparing another parliamentary initiative, advocating for live broadcasts of testimonies from public figures during parliamentary investigative committees.