Federal President Van der Bellen will not authorize prosecution by the public prosecutor’s office in the investigation against FPÖ leader Kickl, Kickl had called him a mummy and senile.
© APA / Roland Schalger
© APA / Roland Schalger
“This is not a question of the courts, but of respect for the citizens and the institutions of the republic.” With these words, the Federal President’s Office explained Alexander Van der Bellen’s decision not to authorize prosecution by the public prosecutor’s office for insults against FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. Tuesday afternoon with In his speech on political Ash Wednesday in Ried im Innkreis, Kickl called the head of state “mummy” and “senile”.
standard procedure
The public prosecutor’s office in Ried then initiated an investigation. After an officer from the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Terrorism, who was present at the event, wrote a report, the public prosecutor’s office sent a letter to the Federal President asking whether he would authorize criminal prosecution in the case, which is what the law provides for in such a case.
However, the Federal President will not grant any authorization for this, as the written statement from the President’s Office said. Van der Bellen justified this by saying that it is the task of politics to “serve the country and its citizens and to ensure security and prosperity”. And this works best “when politicians treat each other and the institutions of the state with respect” instead of insulting one another.
