U-Committee - Political Prominence Initially Excluded

According to the summons request available to the APA, those who were directly confronted with Pilnacek's death or have researched it are to be summoned for questioning first. This includes police officers, journalists, or his former partner. The summoning session will take place on Thursday evening.

Excavator Driver, Policewoman, Firefighter

The sessions are set to begin on January 14 with an on-site inspection at a branch of the Danube where Pilnacek was found. In a subsequent session the following day, the excavator driver who discovered the body, a Krems policewoman called to the scene, and a firefighter who recovered the body are to be questioned. Already known is Martin Kreutner, chairman of the independent commission of inquiry at the Ministry of Justice regarding the case.

In addition to other police officers and a doctor who ordered Pilnacek's autopsy, the FPÖ also wants to question journalists who have dealt with Pilnacek's death. Foremost among them is Peter Pilz, who has written a book on the case. But also the former "profil" journalist Michael Nikbakhsh and Erich Vogl from the "Krone" are to be summoned as informants. The FPÖ justifies the summoning of Pilnacek's former partner by stating that she is said to have been one of the last people to see him alive.

Summoning of Kurz and Nehammer?

Originally, the FPÖ announced plans to summon several prominent politicians to the investigative committee. The core issue for the Freedom Party is not Pilnacek's death itself, but the potential influence, particularly of the ÖVP, on the investigations. Reportedly, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, former Chancellors Sebastian Kurz and Karl Nehammer (all ÖVP), and former Justice Minister Alma Zadic from the Greens are still to be summoned. The order of the summonses is supposed to correspond chronologically to the case.

FPÖ parliamentary group leader Christian Hafenecker sees the blue summons list as evidence that his party is focused on objectivity in the investigative committee. "We Freedom Party members have said from the beginning that in this first investigative committee, which we independently requested, it is not about party-political bickering, but solely about one thing: Clarification regarding the investigations into the death of former Justice Section Head Pilnacek and possible influences of the 'deep black state' on them," he stated in a press release.

ÖVP Criticizes

The ÖVP expressed criticism of the on-site inspection requested by the Freedom Party. "Whether Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, or now Rossatz - FPÖ colleague Hafenecker unabashedly continues the blue 'hiking days', preferably booked at the travel agency 'Taxpayers'," said parliamentary group leader Andreas Hanger in a press release. However, he welcomed the summons of Pilnacek's former partner. Due to "her contradictory statements and interpretations, she is a person of interest who certainly needs to be questioned extensively."

The questioning of the first summons request by the FPÖ is expected to extend over six days, including the on-site inspection. The last date is February 12, with further summonses to be submitted in a timely manner. To address the blue request, the investigative committee will convene early Friday morning before the National Council's plenary session.

(APA/Red)

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