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Krauss ‘not a role model for students’

The nomination of 21-year-old law student Maximilian Krauss to the post of Deputy President of Vienna's City School Board by the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) has drawn heavy criticism from other parties.

Published: 23 July 2014 14:50 CEST
Krauss 'not a role model for students'
FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache said the appointment was "a signal of renewal". Photo: APA/Schneider

Human rights pressure group, SOS Mitmensch, is urging Vienna Mayor, Michael Häupl (SPÖ), not to allow the replacement to go ahead.

"On the basis of his statements, Krauss is certainly not a role model for students," said Alexander Pollak, spokesman for SOS Mitmensch.

The 21-year-old has openly used "anti-Turk hate speech". He has spoken about the need to separate non-German-speaking children and has said that "foreigners with Turkish blood" should be sent back home.

"We call on Mayor Michael Häupl to reject the appointment of Maximilian Krauss and insist on a qualified candidate," said Pollak.

The Social Democrats (SPÖ) considers the decision a "denigration of the office".

The President of the Vienna School Board, Susanne Brandsteidl (SPÖ), stressed in a press release however that above all, the Vice President had no authority to act. According to the Federal School Inspection Act, he has "only the right to inspect and advise".

She also pointed out that the nomination must still follow a formal order by Michael Häupl.

Brandsteidl added that: "In the Office of the Vice President no incitement to hatred and xenophobia would be tolerated."

SPÖ council deputies Tanja Wehsely and Jürgen Czernohorzky branded the appointment of Krauss "pure mockery and denigration of the office" in a press release.

"Krauss has already disqualified himself from the office prior to his nomination by his discrimination against students from immigrant backgrounds."

Club chairman of the Vienna Greens, David Ellensohn, criticized not only Krauss's membership of the Burschenschaft (a far-right student fraternity) and his "unsavoury and unqualified expressions", but also the system of proportional representation in the school system, which allows the nomination of the City School Board President to be made on the strength of party numbers.

"Proportional distribution in ministries which are so important for the future into black and red spheres of influence must become a thing of the past," said Ellensohn.

"With the nomination of Krauss, the FPÖ has permanently disqualified itself from the area of education," said Martina Wurzer, Education Spokeswoman for the Viennese Greens, in a press release.

"Krauss has only attracted attention by his crude demands," she said, calling for the FPÖ to withdraw their decision.

State party chairman of the Viennese branch of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), Manfred Juraczka, sees the nomination of Krauss as a "not very positive sign".

Since the beginning of his political career, the law student has used "his power to ostracise and fear-monger," said Juraczka.

The Secretary-General of the FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, on the other hand, defended the decision in a press release, calling the criticism a "knee-jerk biting attack from the united left hunting party".

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POLITICS

Why does Austria rank so badly for press freedom?

Between political scandals and a decreasing media market, Austria has consistently ranked low in analyses of worldwide press freedom, but it has reached its lowest point this year.

Published: 3 May 2024 12:41 CEST
Why does Austria rank so badly for press freedom?

When we think about countries where there are issues with press freedom, it’s usually the places that are war zones or dictatorships that come to mind. So the fact that Austria ranks only 32nd in the latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom index may seem surprising to many people.

This is the country’s worst result to date, as it slipped from the 29th position it held last year. In 2024, Austria ranks in the middle of the countries classified as “satisfactory,” behind Moldova and ahead of Mauritania. Only eight countries are rated as having a “good” situation. The 22nd edition of the Press Freedom Index covers 180 countries worldwide.

According to Fritz Hausjell, President of RSF Austria, there are many reasons why Austria has fallen behind. The judiciary is investigating “highly problematic close relationships and suspected corrupt practices between the governing party ÖVP and several major media outlets”, he said, according to an ORF report. In addition, the judiciary is investigating the far-right FPÖ’s role in possible advertising corruption.

“In Austria, press freedom has been undermined by various political pressures or restrictions on access to information. Violence at public events prevented journalists from reporting freely”, RSF said.

READ ALSO: How Austria has tightened laws to prevent political corruption

Small market and political influences

“With just a dozen major outlets, the media market is small and very concentrated”, according to the RSF report. Additionally, tabloids have the largest readership, and there have been many attempts to influence both state and privately-owned media, with RSF calling the practice “constant”.

“Some politicians are suspected of having used public funds to buy favourable coverage in the tabloid media, while others have tried to intervene by directly going to editorial offices, such as former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. He was forced to resign in 2021 due to suspicions of buying positive coverage in a privately owned newspaper. Journalists are sometimes the targets of political attacks coming from the extremes”, the report stated.

There have been significant scandals after corruption allegations between politicians and the media.

Most recently, prosecutors said an investigation into several former government members for alleged bribery, corruption, and breach of trust was opened in mid-April. Herbert Kickl, the hardline leader of Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party (FPOe)—currently leading polls ahead of elections expected in September—is suspected of commissioning adverts and paying for them with public money.

READ ALSO: The Kurz corruption scandal exposes Austria’s press freedom problems

In late 2021, a major media graft scandal erupted in the Alpine country. Austria’s former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his inner circle were accused of using public funds to pay for polls skewed to boost his image on Austrian tabloid media. It eventually led to Kurz’s resignation and exit from politics.

Of course, one of the country’s most infamous political scandals, the so-called Ibizagate that blew up in 2019, also shows Austrian leaders’ and major media’s murky underground connections. At the time, a leaked video showed then FPÖ leader and vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache in a 2017 meeting on the Spanish resort island of Ibiza with a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch.

Among the many controversial statements, Strache was filmed discussing the possibility of the woman buying Austria’s most-read tabloid, Kronen Zeitung, and making its editorial line more pro-FPOe.

READ MORE: ‘Ibizagate’ – What you need to know about the Austrian political corruption scandal

But it’s not just the tabloid media that has shrouded connections to those in power. In 2022, two prominent Austrian journalists, editors of reputed media such as Die Presse and ORF, had to resign over leaked chats between them and politicians. The chats showed discussions over appointments with the public broadcaster ORF and friendly notes with “inappropriate closeness” between them and political leaders.

Outdated legal framework and harassment

Although various bills are being discussed, Austria is the last EU member state without a freedom of information law. Journalists are, moreover, concerned about certain political parties’ attempts to restrict their access to judicial information. 

Journalists are also harassed by various interest groups and societal movements. They are liable to censor themselves as a result of online attacks based on their gender, social class, ethnicity or religion. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine has become an issue that is polarising Austrian society and encouraging people to question journalism, the report highlighted.

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

Additionally, reporters’ coverage of protests is facing significant obstruction by police, who use frequent identity checks to harass them and threaten legal action. Women journalists are particularly at risk. Newsrooms often receive threatening letters and messages, according to the report.

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