Austria - December 2024

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)