Criticism from the Greens

Minister Raab invited to the “Leitkultur” expert panel

As Integration Minister, Susanne Raab is to develop a "guiding culture", as her ÖVP has set as a goal in its election campaign program.(Bild: APA/BUNDESKANZLERAMT/CHRISTOPHER DUNKER)

Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) is starting to shape an Austrian "Leitkultur" and invited experts to a round table on Thursday. The topic is how the basic consensus of coexistence can be strengthened, Raab said beforehand with reference to immigrants from other cultures. The Greens and the SPÖ criticized the composition of the panel.

Raab referred to the values courses, saying that it is now accepted and desired that values are dealt with in the immigration process. After all, values that are taken for granted in this country, such as the rule of law, democracy, equal rights for women and men and freedom of the press, are not always taken for granted by those who flee to Austria. After all, they come from cultures in which women are worth less and in which practices such as genital mutilation or forced marriage, which are prohibited in Austria, are prevalent.

"Unacceptable behavior on the backs of women"
However, the Austrian identity is more than just the country's laws - "it is also about a clear basic consensus in living together". This should prevent a situation in which there is "coexistence" instead of "togetherness". For the vast majority of people with a migrant background, it is not a contradiction to live their Austrian identity without denying their roots, emphasized the Minister. However, the fact that the basic consensus she wants to see does not yet exist everywhere can be seen in complaints from female doctors and teachers, for example: Some men would ask for male doctors in hospitals, some boys would have no respect for female teachers. This is unacceptable behavior, "mostly on the backs of women and girls".

As Integration Minister, Susanne Raab is to develop a "guiding culture", as her ÖVP party has set itself as a goal in its election campaign program.(Bild: APA/BUNDESKANZLERAMT/CHRISTOPHER DUNKER)

Cutting social benefits in case of unwillingness?
They want to consider how the basic consensus can be strengthened, both in integration work and elsewhere. Raab also wants to discuss how teachers, doctors and policewomen can be supported and what levers can be used for family and social benefits as well as for compulsory schooling and parents' obligations to cooperate.

Criticism came from the small coalition partner, the Greens, and the SPÖ. One participant in the expert panel in particular caused tempers to flare. The legal scholar Katharina Pabel was an opponent of abortion, said the women's spokespersons of the parties, Meri Disoski (Greens) and Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ). Pabel is on the editorial advisory board of the "Zeitschrift für Lebensrecht".

"Anti-feminism as politics of the center?"
"Are anti-feminism and queer hostility part of the 'politics of the center', which the ÖVP has recently been pinning on its flags like a litany?" wrote Disoski on X. Raab is borrowing from reactionary politicians such as Donald Trump and Viktor Orban, Holzleitner complained in a press release. When asked, the minister described the accusations as "absurd". According to the Federal Chancellery, Pabel was joined in the discussion by integration expert Emina Saric, demographer Rainer Münz, integration expert Kenan Güngör and social law expert Wolfgang Mazal.

Criticism from the FPÖ came from the opposite direction: General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz accused the "Nehammer-ÖVP" in a press release of standing for "rainbow and gender ideology instead of traditional values such as family, ingratiation with political Islam and its associations", among other things. This would "turn right, but turn left".