No citizenship for Ukrainians after anthem refusal

The state government had revoked the granting of Austrian citizenship following the incident at a ceremony in the district administration of Baden. According to the "Kronen Zeitung" (Sunday edition), the man appealed, but the legal remedy was unsuccessful.

"The granting of Austrian citizenship must be at the end of a successful integration process," stated Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) on Sunday via Facebook. However, anyone who refuses to sing our anthem has "obviously not successfully completed this process" and therefore it is "only logical" that this privilege is not granted to him. VPNÖ state manager Matthias Zauner saw the court decision as a "message to all integration refusers": "It is our country. These are our rules. And anyone who does not follow our rules has obviously not earned our citizenship," he stated in a press release.

No Citizenship for Man Who Refused Anthem

FPÖ state councilor Martin Antauer emphasized according to "Kronen Zeitung": "Citizenship is not a bargain or gift item, but a privilege and an honor. Anyone who is not willing, for whatever reason, to sing the Austrian national anthem can never be rewarded with Austrian citizenship." According to paragraph 21 of the Citizenship Act, the granting of citizenship must "take place in an appropriate, solemn setting, expressed by the joint singing of the national anthem and the visible presence of the flags of the Republic of Austria, the respective federal state, and the European Union".

(APA/Red)

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