On 11 December, the National Council voted to lift the immunity of Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), as well as three other FPÖ MPs involved in a separate matter. A former Conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) lawmaker has alleged that Kickl lied during a testimony about using public funds for FPÖ-positive advertisements.  The three other MPs are accused of violating the Nazi Prohibition Law by singing a Nazi song at a funeral. The decision to lift the immunity of the MPs allows prosecutors to proceed with investigations into the allegations. The FPÖ, which won Austria’s parliamentary elections in September 2024, called the decision politically motivated persecution. In February, former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was found guilty of perjury.

Sources: Austrian Government, Euronews, Reuters, The International,  Jurist, International IDEA (1), International IDEA  (2)

On 29 September, the “far-right” Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won a party record by winning 57 of the 183 parliamentary seats, securing 28.8 per cent of the vote in the legislative elections. Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian Peoples Party (ÖVP) secured 51 seats, with a vote share of 26.3 per cent. This is a loss of 20 seats compared to the previous election. The centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) became the third largest party with a total of 41 seats and a vote share of 21.1 per cent, lower than in any previous election. Voter turnout stood at 76.2 per cent, similar to the 75.6 per cent in 2019. 

Sources: Bundestagswahl, Politico, International IDEA 

Legislation introduced in November 2023 for rehabilitation and compensation of individuals persecuted or convicted for consensual homosexual acts took effect on 1 February. The legislation targets those convicted under the previous legal code, which had decriminalized homosexuality in 1971 but still targeted gay men and treated homosexual and heterosexual relationships differently. All affected individuals who faced imprisonment or serious social disadvantages, like job loss, can claim compensation, ranging from EUR 500 to 3,000. A total of EUR 33 million has been allocated for these payments. Justice Minister Alma Zadić apologized for the injustice caused by the authorities, stating that the compensation reflects the country's commitment to taking responsibility for these actions.

Sources: International IDEA, Bundesministerium Justiz, Kleine Zeitung, Der Standard, Kurier

Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was found guilty of providing false statements to a parliamentary inquiry regarding alleged corruption in his first tenure in government. Vienna’s Criminal Court issued an eight-month suspended jail sentence, which Kurz has appealed. The case revolves around Kurz’s role in appointing executives to the state holding company, Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG), while serving as chancellor. While Kurz claimed to only be informed about the appointments, which was a responsibility of the finance minister, evidence presented in court revealed that Kurz was actively involved. Kurz resigned in 2021 amid pressure following a corruption scandal.

Update: Following his appeal, the Vienna Higher Regional Court on 26 May overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for false testimony and annulled his eight-month suspended sentence. The judges ruled that the criteria for perjury had not been met. Kurz still faces other ongoing corruption investigations.

Sources: Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), MeinBezirk, Twitter (Sebastian Kurz), Reuters (1), Deutsche Welle (1), Deutsche Welle (2), British Broadcasting Company, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Presse