FPÖ files popular complaint with KommAustria against appointment of ORF Secretary General Pig

Allegation of political pre-determination

Specifically, the FPÖ criticizes that the call for applications had required "fünfjährige einschlägige oder hinsichtlich des Aufgabengebiets verwandte Berufserfahrung" ("five years of relevant professional experience or experience related to the field of duties"). Pig, however, "allerdings nur Berufserfahrung aufgrund seiner Tätigkeit für eine Nachrichtenagentur (APA)" ("only had professional experience based on his work for a news agency (APA)") to show. In addition, he lacks both relevant radio and television experience.

Already on the night of June 11 to 12, the ORF Foundation Council member delegated by the FPÖ, Peter Westenthaler, had announced a challenge to the Director General election. Westenthaler described the election at the time as a "Farce" and as "Postenbesetzung von Rot und Schwarz" ("position-filling by Red and Black" — i.e., by SPÖ and ÖVP). The FPÖ accuses the coalition parties ÖVP and SPÖ of having politically steered the process.

Formal and deadline criticism

The complaint also points to an alleged "Sideletter" of the coalition parties in the government program, which allegedly stipulated a nomination right for the ÖVP for the post of Director General. Public expressions of support for Pig before the election, for example by ÖVP Secretary General Nico Marchetti and by Tyrolean Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP), indicated according to the FPÖ's view that the decision had already been made before the proceeding.

The FPÖ also criticizes the short application period of only ten working days given the high number of 76 applicants. With such a deadline, a "transparentes, offenes, wirksames und nicht diskriminierendes Verfahren" ("transparent, open, effective and non-discriminatory proceeding") could not be guaranteed, the party argues. Hafenecker said on this: "Das geht sich nicht aus" ("That doesn't work out") and described the timetable as "reine Makulatur" ("pure waste paper").

Requirements for the popular complaint

For a popular complaint at KommAustria, the FPÖ needs the support of at least 120 ORF fee payers. Persons who still wish to sign the complaint can download a form on the FPÖ website, fill it out, and send it to the party headquarters, Hafenecker explained. Submission to KommAustria is planned for the coming week, according to the FPÖ.

At the press conference titled "Medien-Sommeroffensive" ("Media Summer Offensive"), Hafenecker took the opportunity to point to the FPÖ's own web radio, "Austria First." It had been launched half a year ago and had since recorded around 2.21 million listens. Werner Reichel is responsible for programming; National Council member Marie-Christine Guliani works there as a moderator. Hafenecker described the offering as an alternative to the established media.

Political background and strategy

KommAustria is the Austrian media authority that oversees, among other things, compliance with the ORF Act. A popular complaint allows those affected — or, with sufficient support from fee payers, the general public — to take legal action against decisions of the ORF Foundation Council. How the authority will decide on the complaint is open; a review proceeding can extend over several months.

With the complaint, the FPÖ is attempting to reignite the political debate over the independence of the ORF. The appeal to the application criteria as well as to the alleged pre-determination of the candidacy is aimed at calling into question the legitimacy of Pig's election. Observers also assess the move as part of a broader media strategy by the party, which has built its own competing offering with "Austria First."