In an interview, Sebastian Kurz compared his criticism of public prosecutors at the WKStA with the disclosure of abuses in the Catholic Church.
Vienna - In an interview published last week with “Vorarlberg live”, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was asked about his party's criticism against the judiciary. He compared the situation with the abuse cases in the Catholic Church. The comparison would almost have gone unnoticed if the online medium “Zack Zack” hadn't unearthed the critical passage entitled “Briefly equates public prosecutors with pedophile priests” on Monday.
Just as he was concerned with addressing individual grievances with the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA), the critics of the church wanted to uncover scandals, Kurz explained in an interview with “Vorarlberg live”.
“I don't think any institution should be sacrosanct,” said the head of government.
“It must be possible for the work of individual people to be critically questioned.
There was one institution that was never questioned - the Catholic Church. "
Sebastian Kurz: Criticism of public prosecutors at the WKStA
The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) is investigating the Federal Chancellor on suspicion of false evidence in the Ibiza investigation committee. In recent months, Kurz repeatedly criticized the work of the WKStA and individual public prosecutors. If someone is “guilty” of something, then it is legitimate to address it, Kurz explained in “Vorarlberg live”: “I believe that we have seen some problem areas in the WKStA.” For example, cases have become public that are actually should be dealt with in court, and there are "a lot of allegations that are made in the media, all of which subsequently turn out to be false".
Criticism of Kurz now comes from the opposition.
The liberal Neos spoke on Monday of a "derailment" of the Chancellor and demanded clear words of apology.
The Chancellor's statements are “a degradation of the many victims of the abuse scandals of the past decades,” said Neos Secretary General Douglas Hoyos.
“Stone Age” -sayers and abuse comparison: Sebastian Kurz causes more excitement
It is not the first excerpt from the “Vorarlberg live” interview that causes a stir.
With reference to the fight against the climate crisis, for example, Sebastian Kurz believes it is possible to cope with it without having to forego it.
"I do not think that our way back to the Stone Age should be," he said in an interview.
Criticism came promptly from Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens. In an interview with the Sunday edition of the daily newspaper
Die Presse,
he accused the Chancellor of
“old thinking and politics from yesterday”. There was also contradiction from leading climate researchers. The Climate Change Center Austria (CCCA) stated in a broadcast on Thursday that Kurz's statements contradict international and national scientific studies.
(ee / dpa)