FPÖ and Greens Criticize Messenger Surveillance
Green leader Gewessler criticizes the messenger surveillance as an "ÖVP surveillance fantasy." For FPÖ constitutional spokesperson Schilchegger, it brings "no added value to public safety, but less," seeing problems on both the legal and technical sides. Security gaps could be exploited by third parties. Moreover, no Islamist terrorist attack has been prevented by its use.
Greens accuse SPÖ and NEOS of backtracking on messenger surveillance
The Greens expressed similar criticism. In other countries - specifically European constitutional states - journalists or opposition politicians have been monitored, said digitalization spokesperson Süleyman Zorba, accusing NEOS and SPÖ of "backtracking at record speed." Chat histories can be accessed through house searches. If the messenger surveillance for threats is passed in its current form on Wednesday, the Greens will consider a lawsuit before the Constitutional Court (VfGH), Zorba stated. ÖVP security spokesperson Ernst Gödl reacted with incomprehension. Greens and FPÖ would scandalize the threat surveillance - "without presenting a plan themselves on how to effectively prevent terrorism in Austria in the future," he emphasized in a statement.
The opposition parties each announced an urgent motion - one on the weapons law to ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (Greens), one on the WHO to SPÖ Health Minister Korinna Schumann (FPÖ). The Greens want private individuals - with exceptions for hunters or sport shooters - to no longer be allowed to own firearms. Because everyone has a right to protection from weapons, said Justice spokesperson Alma Zadić. It is reasonable that gun ownership cards should only be issued for eight years in the future, allowing regular reliability checks. However, it is inconsistent that this should only apply to new gun ownership cards. It is also incomprehensible that hunters do not need psychological tests.
With their urgent motion on the WHO, the Freedom Party wants to achieve a government objection to the amendment of international health regulations. By allowing the WHO Director-General to declare a pandemic emergency in the future, a lot of "power is placed in the hands of one individual," warned FPÖ social spokesperson Dagmar Belakowitsch. When asked about the insights gained from the total of 827 parliamentary inquiries submitted by the FPÖ during the Corona period, the deputy pointed out that the responses are still being evaluated. It was certainly worthwhile, because "even no answer is an answer," and they reserve the right to follow up if answers were not provided.
FPÖ also against new regulation of politicians' social media accounts
The FPÖ is also opposing the planned amendment to the party law supported by the Greens. The new regulation of politicians' social media accounts is a "breach of taboo and a free pass to break the law," said FPÖ Secretary General Christian Hafenecker. From the Freedom Party's perspective, the originally planned and widely criticized retroactive effect is not yet off the table due to the announced agreement by ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS, and Greens. It is not enough to delete the relevant wording through an amendment motion; the applicability to ongoing proceedings must be positively formulated, said Schilchegger.
The FPÖ also criticized the new partial pension, which is to be decided on Thursday. Belakowitsch fears "massive deteriorations" for everyone who will retire in the future. It is "shabby" of the government to sell the new regulation as a success, while it is "only a burden package." Belakowitsch also accused the government of having long decided on the "cold increase in the retirement age" in the form of the so-called sustainability mechanism, only postponing it to 2030. "That's where it's headed: working until 70 years."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.