FPÖ Accuses Government of Blocking the "Small Inquiry Committee"

The FPÖ on Thursday, before the meeting of the so-called "small investigative committee" on the funding of non-governmental organizations, which it initiated, complained about the blockade by the government factions. The point of contention is, from the perspective of the Freedom Party, the inadequate delivery of documents and the absence of the summoned ministers. So far, there is no list of ministers, criticized the blue faction leader Christoph Steiner in a press conference.

FPÖ Detects Blockade by the Government

"The government has already blocked, delayed, and made it clear during the scheduling that it does not take accountability and responsibility towards the Austrian population seriously," criticized Steiner. The same applies to the delivery of documents. This was done too briefly, so his faction only had "a scant 24 hours" to review the documents before this first meeting.

Also, on Thursday, no minister will appear in the "small investigative committee," which is formally a subcommittee of the Court of Audit Committee, to answer questions from the deputies. Instead, the government is sending a university professor from the WU, who researches nonprofit management and governance, said Steiner: "So someone who appears as the biggest defender of this system and this swamp."

Party-Affiliated Organizations in Focus

In today's meeting, they want to "primarily look at those organizations that operate in the party-affiliated environment of the system parties," explained Steiner: "And there are plenty of those." From the Freedom Party's perspective, this includes the Austria Institute for European and Security Policy, whose president is the former Defense Minister Werner Fasslabend (ÖVP). This institute receives funding in the millions. Or the "Eco-Social Forum," which is also "funded in the millions" and whose board is "predominantly filled with ÖVP members." The president is Stephan Pernkopf, deputy of Lower Austria's governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

But the Freedom Party also wants to look at the Green Party Academy, said Steiner: "Because they have managed to receive orders from the Green Health Ministry for training ministry employees, aside from the party academy funding." And, of course, they will also scrutinize Global 2000, where Leonore Gewessler worked as managing director before her time as minister.

"Cronyism" at the Expense of Taxpayers

Using these examples, they want to explore the question of "whether and how public funds flow into environments close to political parties and whether a system of favoritism has been installed and established here." This must now be kept alive in times of budget constraints by "the tax money of the hard-working Austrian population."

The next meeting of the "small investigative committee" is not planned until January. Steiner now expects the government to announce by then which minister will appear in the committee.

Criticism of the FPÖ came from coalition parties. ÖVP parliamentary group leader Wolfgang Gerstl emphasized that almost half of the entire Austrian population is involved in non-profit organizations. Gerstl clearly distanced himself "from the FPÖ's attempt to cast valuable non-profit organizations in Austria in a bad light and to criticize their funding," he said. "We must protect, enable, and promote voluntary engagement. This is a clear commitment to an Austria of clubs and volunteerism. The ÖVP will always stand on the side of those who are committed."

NEOS: "No Playground for Populists", Demand Constructive Approach

Similarly, SPÖ parliamentary group leader Karin Greiner, who wants to focus on the work of clubs and aid organizations in the subcommittee. These are "the backbone" of society and take on important tasks. They do not want to let the FPÖ "badmouth" them. Greiner cannot understand the criticism expressed by the FPÖ, after all, all documents were "submitted on time" and the list of today's informants was unanimously decided.

The NEOS want to use the subcommittee for the "in-depth parliamentary control of the use of public funds." For example, they want to take a close look at the funding practices of recent years, explained the pink parliamentary group leader Christoph Pramhofer: "And if there are actual grievances to be clarified, we will, as always, participate constructively in the clarification." However, they want to reject "party-political games." The subcommittee is "no playground for populists," Pramhofer said in the direction of the Freedom Party, in whose approach he sees "a blanket defamation of civil society and undifferentiated NGO-bashing."

The Green parliamentary group leader Lukas Hammer also sharply criticized the Blues: The FPÖ is trying "under the pretext of transparency" to sow distrust against NGOs, research institutions, and volunteer organizations. At the same time, the Greens emphasized that transparency about the use of public funds is of course necessary and referred to the Freedom of Information Act and the transparency database.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.