Issues unresolved

President’s Office meets for the first time under Rosenkranz

Walter Rosenkranz himself was the subject of deliberations in the first presidential committee of the National Council, which he chaired.

(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

On Thursday, the Presidium of Parliament met for the first time under the leadership of Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ). The new President of the National Council was also the subject of discussion - in addition to the war in Ukraine.

This is because the Greens want a change in the law, as Sigrid Maurer, managing chairwoman of the parliamentary group, emphasized before the meeting, according to which the head of parliament is no longer automatically also chairman of the National Fund for Victims of National Socialism.

Legal service to examine possibility of substitution
Maurer justified this by stating that Rosenkranz was unsuitable for this function and that this was also seen as such by the Jewish Community. The Green bill wants the main committee to be able to select the other members of the executive committee to head the fund.

Rosenkranz himself told the presidium that everyone was free to submit proposals. The consultations ended without agreement. The President of the National Council now wants the Legal and Legislative Service to clarify whether representation would be legally possible. Should this be the case, he would "certainly consider" standing aside for the substitutes. A further discussion on the topic is also planned with the other members of the Executive Committee. 

The Presidium met for the first time under Walter Rosenkranz.

(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

After the meeting, the Second President of the National Council, Peter Haubner (ÖVP), expressed his willingness to take over the chairmanship if necessary. Third President Doris Bures (SPÖ) referred to Parliament's close and trusting relationship with the IKG and pleaded for a substitution arrangement, which she believes is possible: "It's up to him," said Bures to Rosenkranz.

Ukraine was also on the agenda
The second matter concerns the request of the Ukrainian ambassador in Vienna to illuminate the parliament in the national colors yellow and blue on the 1000th day of the Russian attack. The Greens and NEOS would support this. The representatives of the Presidium pointed out that the request had also been forwarded to other institutions (Federal Chancellery, Presidential Chancellery) and that they were in discussion about it. In other words, they would like to wait and see how the other institutions react.

Bures warned that the lighting and other actions at Parliament should not be "inflationary". Rosenkranz would prefer to follow the example of the German Bundestag, which is only illuminated once a year. Haubner pleaded for an overall solution with regard to parliamentary lighting.