FPÖ invites Chancellor Stocker and Interior Minister Karner as witnesses to Pilnacek committee of inquiry

Background

Justification by the parliamentary group

The FPÖ justifies its request for summonses on the grounds that those named are "im Untersuchungsgegenstand ausdrücklich genannte Personen". They have "zahlreiche Wahrnehmungen zum Untersuchungsgegenstand" or – in the parliamentary group's wording – are indispensable for the elucidation of the committee's mandate.

First serving or former politicians before the committee

Next steps in the proceedings

With the current list of summonses, serving or former politicians are being called as witnesses to the committee of inquiry for the first time. Previous interrogations had focused on justice officials and officeholders.

What happens now

Political dimension

The next sitting of the committee of inquiry is scheduled, according to the timetable, for 16 September. By then, the summoned individuals must decide whether they will comply with the summons. It remains open in which order members of the National Council and in particular representatives of the Federal President such as Wolfgang Sobotka or former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz are to be heard.

The Pilnacek case is at the centre of the committee's work. The background is investigations led by the WKStA concerning the former head of section at the Ministry of Justice. The committee is to clarify whether there was political influence on ongoing proceedings and what role individual officeholders played.

Under constitutional law, committees of inquiry of the National Council have the right to summon persons to provide information. Witnesses are obliged to comply with the summons, but may, under certain conditions, refuse to be questioned or submit a written statement. The interrogation of the head of government is considered a particularly sensitive political instrument.

The FPÖ played a significant role in supporting the establishment of the committee and provides one of the co-voting members of the parliamentary group. In the coming weeks, the National Council will also debate procedural questions regarding the order of summonses.

A spokesperson for the People's Party pointed out that the summons is in principle to be respected. The head of government must "jederzeit transparent zu handeln" and will respond "im Rahmen der verfassungsrechtlichen Möglichkeiten".