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‘Reforms needed urgently’: Is Austria becoming more corrupt?

Austria has dropped in Transparency International's 'Corruption Perceptions Index', slipping to the 22nd spot. But is there corruption in the Alpine Republic?

'Reforms needed urgently': Is Austria becoming more corrupt?
A demonstrator wearing a mask with the face of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and dressed as a prisoner in handcuffs is seen during a protest in front of the headquarters of the Austrian People's Party OeVP in Vienna on October 7, 2021, a day after Kurz was implicated in a media corruption scandal. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)

Austria continues on a downward trend in Transparency International’s “Corruption Perceptions Index”, receiving 71 out of 100 points, three less than in 2021.

The country slipped further down in the rankings to the 22nd spot, failing to make the top 20 for the first time since 2014.

In the latest 2022 index, Austria ranks between France and Seychelles. It is followed by the United States, Butan and Taiwan. As in previous years, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Norway top the table.

“Last year, Austria was still ranked 13th, and now we are all being presented with the bill for the fact that political decision-makers have been very hesitant, if at all, in tackling anti-corruption measures,” said Eva Geiblinger, Chair of TI Austria’s Board of Directors, according to ORF.

‘Political turbulence and the rule of law challenges’

According to Transparency International, Austria lost ground on the index after a period of political turbulence and what it called “rule of law challenges”, a reference to the country’s seemingly lenient (or non-existent) laws to prevent and fight corruption.

It’s hard to point to one instance that would justify the “political turbulence”, as many would argue that there has been an extended period of turbulence ever since 2019, when the infamous Ibizagate video surfaced, bringing down the ÖVP-FPÖ (centre-right and far-right) ruling coalition.

The video, recorded in 2017 on the Spanish island of Ibiza, showed the leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) apparently offering public contracts in return for campaign help and good media coverage. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Austria’s ‘Ibiza-gate’ video 

The striking images show a politician (who, by 2019, was vice-chancellor of Austria) seemingly arrogantly suggesting that a woman pretending to be the niece of a Russian oligarch might take control of the Kronen Zeitung, Austria’s largest-circulation tabloid and use it to help FPÖ’s campaign.

In return, Strache said he would arrange for public construction tenders currently awarded to Austrian giant Strabag to be given to her instead. He dismissively suggests a scheme to avoid legal scrutiny by using FPÖ-linked foundations to receive “donations”. 

The video is not the first instance of corruption in Austria, but it does highlight some of the country’s “most popular” forms of corruption: nepotism, the unethical relationship between politics and tabloid media, and bribery, particularly using the foundations known as Verein

Ibizagate repercussions

The scandal has been known as the “Ibizagate”, which had immediate and long-term consequences. It brought down the ÖVP-FPÖ ruling coalition and put the far-right party in the opposition for years – Strache also left the FPÖ and his comeback stint through his own political party failed.

The People’s Party ÖVP survived the scandal (then) and chancellor Sebastian Kurz won the following elections, forming a coalition government with the Green party. However, the scandal’s repercussions are still ongoing, creating years of “political turbulence” in Austria.

READ ALSO: Corruption in Austria: Why has ORF’s editor-in-chief resigned?

Investigations concerning the statements made in the infamous video led to findings on the smartphones of politicians of a high level, bringing several new police operations. 

Austria’s former Vice-Chancellor and disgraced former leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) Heinz-Christian Strache gives his private statement in Vienna, Austria. Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP

From then, chat conversations between ÖVP leading politicians revealed improper relations between political leaders and their friends (scandals involving bribes), their colleagues (scandals involving political appointments) and the media (scandals involving bought and edited polls to favour specific candidates) – to mention a few.

READ ALSO: Why is support for Austria’s far-right FPÖ rising?

Finally, allegations led to the resignation of once Wunderkind Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), and the People’s Party has lost much of its popular support after each political scandal involving its members. Now, the country is led by Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), who trails in popularity polls.

Even in 2023, investigations are ongoing and new scandals, allegations and accusations might surface.

READ ALSO: 

Reforms urgently needed

Austria has also dropped in the rankings due to its failure to combat corruption due to its lenient laws and regulations. Earlier this year, a report of the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) attests to Austria’s gross deficiencies in the fight against and prevention of corruption, as The Local reported.

Among other things, the report criticised a lack of transparency and political influence in appointments to law enforcement positions.

The group looked at corruption prevention in government and found that increased attention needs to be paid to the analysis of risk factors for corruption around the highest political officials such as chancellors, vice-chancellors, ministers, secretaries of state and general and cabinet staff.

READ ALSO: Energy, corruption, labour shortage: Austria’s plans to face its major challenges

GRECO recommended disclosing the financial circumstances of relatives and partners of these top political figures, although this “does not necessarily have to be made public”. Additionally, transparency is needed when appointing general secretaries, the report added.

Greco slams that major legislative projects such as the Transparency Act, intended to abolish official secrecy, or the reform of the criminal law on corruption, have been delayed – although the latter will now be approved.

It said that the prevention of conflicts of interest is a challenge that requires increased attention.

In its report, Transparency International stated that Austria’s government “urgently needs to move ahead with reforms to increase lobbying transparency and freedom of information”

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POLITICS

EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

Politicians from Austria's centre-right ÖVP are putting together a definition of Austria's 'guiding culture', known in German as 'Leitkultur'. What is that and why are they doing it?

EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

When you think of Austria, your first thoughts might be of Alpine hills, Schnitzel and traditional folk music. 

Is this what politicians are referring to when they talk about Austrian ‘Leitkultur’ or ‘leading or guiding culture’? 

Many in Austria are considering this question because the coalition government is honing in on this concept. 

Austria’s Integration Minister Susanne Raab, of the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), has been tasked by chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) to develop a legal definition of ‘Austrian guiding culture’.

It’s part of the “Austria Plan” that Nehammer presented earlier this year when he called for a “guiding Austrian culture by 2030, which should also be reflected in law as a national cultural asset”.

READ ALSO: ‘Austria Plan’ – What are the chancellor’s new plans for the country?

Raab said it should ensure “that symbols and behaviours that contradict our fundamental values can be treated in a legally differentiated manner”.

However, this topic has been the subject of heated debate with critics accusing politicians of using it to alienate immigrants, particularly asylum seekers and refugees.There is a fear that the ‘Leitkultur’ concept goes against multiculturalism and calls on people to conform to one ‘guiding culture’ without an acceptance of other ways of life outside western culture. 

The concept is not just a talking point in Austria – it’s also been discussed heavily in neighbouring Germany for years, particularly by centre-right and far-right parties. 

How is Austria planning to define Leitkultur?

The Austrian government says it wants to define a concept of national cultural heritage in law over the next six years. 

As a first step, the Integration Minister has brought together a panel of experts who will meet on Thursday.

Under the banner “Austrian identity and guiding culture: values of coexistence”, the first meeting will be an introductory exchange, according to Raab’s office. The minister will outline her approach to the topic before the discussion, Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported.

The panel includes Katharina Pabel, a lawyer from Linz, Rainer Münz, who worked for Erste Bank and advised Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the EU Commission and Wolfgang Mazal, a professor at the Institute for Labour and Social Law at the University of Vienna.

What is Austrian ‘guiding culture’?

In an interview with Der Standard before the meeting, Mazal said the initial discussion “should serve to find a consensus in society about what is important to us and what form of coexistence we should cultivate”. He added that the ‘Leitkultur’ debate should be a “process of reflection”.

Mazal does not share the criticism of the term – in his view, it is not about placing one culture above others. Similar to the mission statement of a company, a “guiding culture” should define the “fundamental direction” of a society, he said. 

But the ÖVP’s communication has been more rigid. Secretary General Christian Stocker, for instance, recently explained in a Facebook video that Austrian identity is “what defines us”. This goes “from A to Z”, for example from brass band music to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. “How we celebrate our festivals and holidays” is also part of our identity, he said. And “anyone who doesn’t want to accept all that is welcome to leave”, he made clear.

Overall, the People’s Party is focussing the debate very strongly on the topic of migration. Stocker says, for example, in the context of his comments on identity, that those “who have come to us” have done so voluntarily. “They have chosen this country and therefore they must also accept how we live in this country, what tradition and identity we have.”

In social media posts, Der Standard notes that the party states things like: “Anyone who believes that they should not shake a woman’s hand because she is ‘unclean’ must leave.” Or: “Anyone who rejects our way of life must leave!” 

Integration a key component 

Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) told the Kronen Zeitung earlier this year that the concept was centred on integration. 

“Integration means learning the language, going to work and also accepting the values of our coexistence,” she said.

“And that is relevant because many people come to us who have been socialised completely differently. Where the culture is completely different, where women are worth less than men, where girls have no access to education and are forced into marriage or where the police are not your friend and helper, but highly corrupt. All of this is important to convey. And this is where immigrants also have to adapt.”

Raab added that it was possible for someone who did not adapt to face sanctions. 

“Yes, there will be measures that can be implemented in law, Raab told the newspaper, suggesting that could include cuts to social benefits, for example, or negative influences in the citizenship procedure or to asylum status.

The minister gave the example of when refugees come to Austria they have to take a German and values course as well as sign a declaration of integration otherwise there is a risk of having social benefits cut. The ÖVP is also currently considering further sanctions. 

Whatever the case, it is clear that the ÖVP is pushing for more integration measures in Austria, which is something they have been doing consistently. 

READ ALSO: Austrian minister wants foreigners to improve German levels to keep social benefits

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