We still do not know if the President of Ukraine he’s got time and mood to talk to Parliament of Austria or if accepted relevant sounding from Vienna. But already the preliminary arrangements between political parties recall “prank”, as the Austrian press points out.
What exactly happened? In the beginning he did it liberal and pro-European party NEOS, proposing to speak in the Federal Parliament of Austria o President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The proposal was discussed within the presidency of the Parliament, but was not accepted.
The objections came mainly from two major parties, the far-right Free Party (FPÖ) and Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), while his stance has not been clarified center-right People’s Party (PVP). The president of FPÖ Herbert Cycle refuses to receive Volodymyr Zelensky via teleconference, citing traditional Austria ” neutrality regime ‘ and states that “by the same logic We do not want to welcome Vladimir Putin eithernor any other warring party “.
The reaction of FPÖ is not surprising, as it is Putin’s ties with Russia are well known. In 2008 ο then far-right FPÖ leader and opposition leader Hans-Christian Strache had expressed understanding of the Russian invasion of Georgia. In 2016 the FPÖ signed a cooperation agreement with United Russia party of Putin. As Vice Chancellor of Austria, Strache participated in his contacts center-right Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz with the President of Russia. In 2014 one of his associates, o businessman Johan Gudenushad appeared in Crimea as an observer in the referendum that led to annexation of the peninsula to Russia, to ensure that all democratic procedures were followed. And when the Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneisl married the chosen one of her heart, in August 2018, Vladimir Putin was also invited to the wedding. Who not only brought with him the whole Cossack choirbut also danced waltz with the bride. The His wedding gift was earrings worth 50,000 euros, according to Austrian publications of the time. Following her departure from the government, Karin Kneisl took over as chief of staff Russian energy giant Rosneft.
“Yes, but” by the Social Democrats
The reaction of the FPÖ is therefore expected. But what attitude do they take the traditional political parties of Austria; The Social Democrats certainly made noise. They do not want to be in the same drawer as the FPÖ, though Their leaders sometimes seek political alliances with the far right.. On Wednesday, the SPεδρος vice-president said: “It is wrong for the NEOS to claim that the SPÖ rejected the proposal for a speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky in Parliament.” So the Socialists did not say they did not want Zelensky. But they did not say that they wanted him either. Speaking to the Tiroler Zeitung newspaper, SPÖ “sources” are throwing the ball at (from the center-right ÖVP) Speaker of Parliament Wolfgang Sobotka, saying that it is his responsibility to invite the President of Ukraine and if he takes the initiative, the Social Democrats they are not going to reject it.
But Sobotka returns the ball and tells the Austrian News Agency (APA) that is not going to take the initiativeif not previously an agreement is reached between parliamentary groups. “It’s sad that the Social Democrats are using neutrality as a fig tree,” he said. “Green” MP David Stegmiller. This is where’s intervenes NEOS MP Nikolaos Serak“So since almost all political parties are in favor of Zelensky’s speech in the Austrian Parliament, let us set a date for an extraordinary sitting next week,” he said, with the apparent aim of persuading all parties to take a seat, if nothing else.
Fear of ε Zelensky’s indiscretions?
In a comment entitled “Neutral on the verge of farce” the Austrian newspaper Die Presse Express a suspicion: Deputies may be afraid that Volodymyr Zelensky will say things that no one in Austria is happy to hear, as he did in neighboring Switzerland, calling on the Berne government to freeze the bank accounts held by Russian oligarchs in the country and criticizing Nest’s “businesses”. (with the Swiss company replying, however, that it has fully complied with the provisions on sanctions).
But even so, the Austrian newspaper urges MPs to invite Volodymyr Zelensky“Here speaks a desperate man, seeking help everywhere. The least we can do is listen to him, as Putin’s bombs wipe out entire cities in Ukraine. An invitation – whether accepted or not – would be one minimal indication of decency, compassion and recognition of the tragedy. The fact that this invitation is disappearing, but also the way it is disappearing, is an Austrian farce. And in fact a bad joke “.
DW / Giannis Papadimitriou (APA, ORF, Die Presse, Der Standard)
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