Parliamentary introspection

The Austrian parliament unanimously passed a resolution establishing an inquiry committee (Untersuchungs-Ausschuss) to investigate a number of government corruption scandals from the last decade.

Before the vote, the aim of showing unity between all five parties by submitting the proposal together was frustrated by the Green Party, which withdrew in protest about alleged lobbying payments by OMV, the Austrian oil company, not being included in the inquiry.

The topics that will be covered are allegations of bribery of former ministers by Telekom Austria, the privatisation of state owned apartments (Buwog) in 2004, the public procurement of emergency service radios in 2004, advertising contracts of ministries and state owned industries with the media, the partial gambling liberalisation (2005–2008), and Jörg Haider’s alleged sale of Austrian citizenship to foreign donors in 2007.

The parties continue to disagree over who is to chair the inquiry.