The FPÖ on Wednesday submitted its request for the establishment of an investigative committee in a special session of the National Council. Secretary General Christian Hafenecker justified the measure by claiming that the People’s Party (ÖVP) had created a “deep black state”: “This investigative committee is an act of self-defense against the ÖVP’s political system.” Criticism of the content of the request came from all sides, with only the Greens expressing interest in the Pilnacek affair.
In the committee, the Freedom Party intends to examine both the investigation into the death of the former head of the justice department, Christian Pilnacek, and the government’s coronavirus measures. In both cases, the FPÖ accuses the chancellor’s party of intimidating critics.
Hafenecker stated that the goal is to defend democracy against the ÖVP. During the pandemic, “critics of the measures” were treated like enemies of the state and demonstrators were repeatedly harassed by law enforcement. The media were controlled “through a network of advertisements, grants, and background talks.” According to Hafenecker, the ÖVP wants to retain the Interior Ministry in order to keep matters such as the investigation into the death of a justice official—who had allegedly refused to play along with their system—under its control.
Debate and Allies
Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) offered himself as the first witness before the committee after he was represented by Secretary of State Alexander Pröll during Wednesday’s “urgent query” session because of an overseas trip: “Anyone who does not wish to answer must do so under oath.” Pröll, for his part, criticized the FPÖ for abusing parliamentary queries to block administration. When answering most questions, he referred to previously published information. On the “tragic death” of Pilnacek, Pröll accused the FPÖ of colluding with former Green MP Peter Pilz to help Pilz sell a book about Pilnacek. Regarding COVID-19, Pröll blamed the FPÖ for dozens of conspiracy theories and for promoting an anti-parasitic drug as a cure.
Contentious alliances appeared unlikely. Only Green MP Sigrid Maurer found the Pilnacek matter truly worthy of clarification, though she criticized the “wildly and populistically cobbled-together subjects” and the use of “deep state,” which she called a historically loaded term. SPÖ deputy Maximilian Köllner likewise rejected “deep state” rhetoric and warned that a committee should not be “a vehicle for political revenge.” NEOS MP Douglas Hoyos-Trauttmansdorff promised NEOS cooperation only if a “red thread” emerged from the inquiry; at present, he said, he saw only a “blue thread.”
Next Steps
The FPÖ’s request has been referred to the Committee on Rules of Procedure to determine its admissibility and thereby formally establish the investigative committee. A date for that committee meeting has not yet been set.
