"Absurd announcement"

Further uproar over Kickl’s statement on the death penalty

FPÖ federal party leader Herbert Kickl(Bild: APA/ALEX HALADA)

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl's statement that he would consider a "popular initiative" for the reintroduction of the death penalty - which he himself rejects - to be permissible also caused heated discussions in the National Council election campaign on Saturday. 

ÖVP party leader August Wöginger took this as an opportunity to once again accuse Kickl, who had appeared more moderate on recent election posters, of radicalism. Wöginger called on the Freedom Party leader to categorically rule out such a referendum.

Kickl had made the statement in an interview. He spoke out in favor of a continuity from a referendum to a law. "Every law that can be passed in the National Council should also be able to be passed in the form of a popular initiative," he said.

Parliament could introduce the death penalty, so "logically it must also be possible for a popular initiative". He himself was a clear opponent and did not believe that this was capable of gaining a majority.

"The death penalty is medieval"
The statement had already triggered a storm of protest from political opponents on Friday. On Saturday, Wöginger followed up and demanded that Kickl should rule out such a referendum after his "absurd statement". "Even in the model of direct democracy, human rights are non-negotiable", Wöginger emphasized: "The death penalty is medieval and violates human rights for good reason."

On Friday, the ÖVP, from party leader Karl Nehammer downwards, the SPÖ and the Greens had already sharply rejected Kickl's statements. General Secretary Christian Hafenecker stepped into the breach for the FPÖ. The "feigned fear" of a reintroduction of the death penalty in Austria was completely unfounded.