Agreement on New Rules for Politicians' Social Media Accounts

In the future, it will be permissible for staff in ministerial offices to manage the social media accounts of government members. A retroactive application, which had previously caused criticism because it would have influenced ongoing proceedings, is thus excluded.

No Retroactive Application for New Rules for Politicians' Social Media Accounts

The new regulation is intended to apply to politicians in executive functions at the federal and state levels as well as in parliamentary clubs. It aims to ensure that (party-)political content and government work are treated separately. The amendment to the Political Parties Financing Act is to be passed in the National Council next week. The current proceedings and the fines imposed by the Independent Party Transparency Senate (UPTS) against ÖVP, NEOS, and Greens remain unaffected.

Governing Parties and Greens Satisfied with New Regulation of Politicians' Social Media Accounts

ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti reiterated that it is necessary "to regulate the legal gray area regarding social media appearances of political officeholders in a practical and clear manner." He described the four-party agreement as "welcome." SPÖ Federal Manager Klaus Seltenheim also welcomed the "legal clarification." The criticism in the parliamentary process regarding possible impacts on fines already imposed by the UPTS on ÖVP, NEOS, and Greens has been addressed, said Seltenheim: "The new regulation only applies to cases that the UPTS will decide in the future."

For NEOS General Secretary Douglas Hoyos, the regulation will be measured by its implementation. In any case, from his perspective, this provides "both transparency, traceability, and legal certainty." Whether everyone in the pink National Council club will agree remains to be seen. Styrian NEOS MP Veit Dengler had already announced via "Kleine Zeitung" that he intends to vote against it. He also hopes "that more colleagues will join him." He even describes the new regulation as a "fall from grace in several respects."

The deputy green club chairwoman Sigrid Maurer, on the other hand, stated for her faction that "finally clear rules in a previously unregulated but extremely important area of political communication" now apply. It was also important to the Greens that "the ongoing proceedings and those pending at the BVwG are excluded from this rule to avoid giving a false impression."

FPÖ Still Opposed to New Rules for Politicians' Social Media Accounts

The Freedom Party has continued to show opposition. FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker sees the freedom party's criticism of this "democratic political breach" confirmed by the Court of Audit's statement on the matter yesterday. "The Court of Audit clearly states that this draft law by the system parties does not meet the requirements for transparent financing of political parties and sees a problematic mixing between government and party work." Hafenecker called on ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS, and Greens to abandon the legislative change.

(APA/Red)

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