With a constitutional change, the Hungarian parliament recently banned the holding of pride parades. For this reason, a large majority of MPs turned National Councilor With a resolution against the restriction of the speech, freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTIQ+persons in Hungary. The initiative was not supported by the FPÖ.
The National Council unanimously took note of a collective report by the Petitions Committee. On the one hand, the report states that four citizens’ initiatives should be advised in the corresponding specialist committees. Furthermore, with the knowledge of the report, the parliamentary treatment of two citizens’ initiatives from the phase of government formation after the National Council elections was also completed. For example, the resignation of the federal government formed by the ÖVP and the Greens was requested. Another initiative had spoken out for an “alternative government formation” in the form of an expert government.
Wide majority against restrictions on the rights of LGBTIQ+person in Hungary
Against the background of the ban on holding Pride parades recently adopted by the Hungarian parliament, the National Council opposes the restriction of the speech, freedom of expression of LGBTIQ+person in Hungary. The text of a Resolutionwhich had pleaded for tightening the EU measures against Hungary, was changed in the committee with a joint application by the ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and GREENS and decided by the parliamentary groups. Specifically, the Federal Government asked the Federal Government to commit itself to the restrictions at a bilateral level and to make it clear that the rights of LGBTIQ+personnel in Hungary and basic principles of the EU, such as the rule of law and fundamental rights, must be observed.
Susanne Fürst (FPÖ) saw how to deal with Pride parades as a domestic matter in Hungary. The four parties would once again try to conjure up a problem that does not exist. Queer people and homosexuals could also live freely in Hungary. What the Hungarian law aims at is to ban the sexual behavior that deviates display and sexual scenarios in public that could be suitable to disturb children. She doubted that such a public display, as it takes to take place in Pride parades, is one of the European basic values. Incidentally, the greatest danger for homosexual or queer people is based on Islamists, whose influence in Europe and also also in Austria is getting bigger. To do this, she misses clear statements from the other political groups. FPÖ MP Christian Hafenecker said that the FPÖ did not want to prescribe his way of life. In certain cases, where it is about the protection of children, they allow themselves to disagree. He accused the applicant parties to only emphasize certain incidents, but, for example, to ignore the attacks of left -wing extremists on everyone who represented traditional conservative politics.
The child protection with which the Pride parades were prohibited was only a pre-pushed, flimsy reason, Henrike Brandstötter (Neos) criticized. What is expressed here is the fact that Hungary is increasingly removing the European values. The human rights, which would be under increasing pressure in Hungary and other countries, are not negotiable. Viktor Orban steam hostility to minorities to split society and thus consolidate its system.
Nico Marchetti (ÖVP) accused FPÖ MP Fürst to support the Hungarian line of argument, attempts to move homosexuals close to pedophilia. He recalled that, among other things, because of these attempts to discreditate, an “Article 7 procedure and a lawsuit at the European Court of Human Rights towards Hungary are already running. Of course, it is therefore also an international matter, and he would not be forbidden to express a clear opinion by the FPÖ.
If anti -human rights are anchored in a neighboring country in the constitution, one should not remain idle, said Mario Lindner (SPÖ). The attacks on the LGBTIQ+community are an expression of a right cultural struggle that has already led to various incidents in Austria. The FPÖ would have to be known that there are people whose gender identity cannot be determined as a man or as a woman. Lindner has recently led a number of homosexual and trans-hostile attacks. This worrying development is ignored by the FPÖ or even pulled ridicule.
David Stögmüller (Greens) accused the FPÖ to support an illiberal policy that is increasingly manifested in Hungary under Viktor Orban. With the resolution, you clearly stand on the side of the Hungarian opposition, which stand up against these developments and defend human rights. To put homosexuals close to pedophilia is not under the right to freedom of expression, said Meri Disoski (Greens). Rather, these are agitation and targeted discrediting that you have to consistently oppose. The procedure against the LGBTIQ+community in a policy of small steps is evident in many countries. The aim of this tactic is to force people to disappear from the public and to hide. On the other hand, one has to appear.
Meinl-Reisinger: Resolution strengthens diplomatic efforts
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger thanked for the clear positioning of the National Council. With the acceptance of the resolution, their diplomatic efforts received strong support. With her Hungarian counterpart, she clearly addressed the question of the ban on the Pride parades. This is about basic European values and questions that go beyond the event, said the minister. Hungary cannot always only want to enjoy the positive sides of the EU, while at the same time it does not want to support certain EU positions or make a common appearance more difficult. In this way, Hungary ultimately weakens Europe as a whole, the open social order of which also forms the basis for its economic success.
National Council deals with collective report on citizens’ initiatives
The Petitions Committee of the National Council already treated a number of citizens’ initiatives in the last legislative period. In his first meeting of the current legislative period, several concerns of the citizens were resumed: inside and assigned the newly formed specialist committees of the National Council, such as one Collective report the committee can be found.
The citizens ‘initiative for enabling the alternative performance assessment without grades as part of school autonomy, as well as a citizens’ initiative for the abolition of German support classes and the MIKA D test are further dealt with in the education committee.
Alois Kainz (FPÖ) saw the initiative for alternative performance assessment. This would further hollow out the education system, which is already in a severe crisis. Clear performance ratings are essential to give orientation. The abolition of the German support classes means to close the eyes of reality, which shows that there are more and more children with poor knowledge of German in Austrian schools.
Christoph Zarits (ÖVP) spoke out for the continuation of the German funding classes. They are an important element of linguistic integration. His group colleague Andreas Kühberger also said that the conveyor classes should not be abolished, but strengthened. Language control is an important factor for educational career. Here it was important to find the right solutions.
The demand for a right for children with disabilities to an 11th and 12th school year is also dealt with in the education committee. Irene Neumann-Hartberger (ÖVP) said that the demand for an 11th and 12th school year for children with special educational needs may only affect a small group, but for them it is an essential demand, since it is about better opportunities for their further life. She is pleased that these claims are therefore anchored in the government program. Maria Neumann (ÖVP) saw citizen initiatives and petitions as important instruments of direct democracy. The citizens’ initiative for the 11th and 12th school year had received great support and shows that such initiatives could indicate politics on concerns that it would otherwise have noticed less.
Elisabeth Feichtinger (SPÖ) also saw the right to an 11th and 12th year for young people who have longer pedagogical needs. The Mika D tests would have to be developed further. German funding is important for all children and should not only be seen as a topic for students: inside with a migration background. With the initiatives, citizens would show that education is an important political concern for them, said Heinrich Himmer (SPÖ). He was therefore pleased that these concerns would also be included in the government program.
The collective report can also be seen that a citizens’ initiative with regard to legal changes in the event of loss of pregnancy should be treated under 500 grams in the family committee.
This citizens’ initiative takes up a painful topic, said Bernhard Herzog (SPÖ). It also wants to raise awareness of a more sensitive language and thus contribute to the discovery of the topic of pregnancy loss.
By knowing the collective report, the National Council also dealt with the treatment of the citizens’ initiative for the “Defension of the Federal Government Nehammer – Kogler” and another regarding a “government alternative” in the form of an expert government. MP Michael Bernhard (NEOS) stated that these claims were already implemented or no longer implemented. Basically, the petition committee for the citizens is: an “open door” to the National Council on the inside and could also perceive this role more. The committee should be opened further and serve even more to strengthen the discourse with the citizens: inside. For this he will continue to work as a chairman of the committee.
Christian Lausch (FPÖ) saw it as positive that a number of citizens’ initiatives in the specialist committees would continue to be treated. He hoped that this path would be continued and that an active discussion with the concerns of the population will take place in the committee and the specialist committees, instead of simply “taking note of it”.
Manfred Sams (SPÖ) emphasized the support for the implementation of the EU directive on salary transparency from the petitions treated in the committee. This is about implementing an important step to achieve wage justice between men and women. (Conclusion National Council) Sox
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