Parliament – ​​FPÖ wants to deny the Greens parliamentary group status in the Bundesrat

The FPÖ wants to deny the Greens their status as a parliamentary group in the Federal Council. This became known in advance of tomorrow’s Federal Council meeting, in which the parties will vote on this status. Until now, it was common practice for parties with four or more Federal Council seats to receive the status of a parliamentary group. Anyone who is not granted parliamentary group status loses key parliamentary rights, such as the right to vote in committees or participate in the presidential assembly. “As soon as the FPÖ has the opportunity, it weakens the opposition and attacks critical voices,” criticizes Sigi Maurer, managing club leader of the Greens. She appeals to the other factions represented in the Federal Council not to play along and to protect the rights of even small opposition factions.

“Above all, the ÖVP can and must prove that it will not give in to the authoritarian fantasies of the Orban-supporting FPÖ. “The latest events in the Federal Council show once again how little the FPÖ thinks of democratic practices when it serves their own interests,” said Marco Schreuder, leader of the Green Party in the Federal Council. Parties with four Federal Council members have already been granted parliamentary group status eight times – most recently in 2019. The FPÖ has also benefited from this practice. These decisions were always unanimous. Now, however, the FPÖ is taking a stand and ignoring every tradition that was previously taken for granted.

The Greens are calling for an end to these power games and a return to the democratic principles that have served as the basis for fair and respectful cooperation in the Federal Council for decades. “We will not allow ourselves to be silenced – this blockade is a direct attack on democracy and the rights of the opposition,” concluded Maurer and Schreuder.