European Central: The Orbanisation of Austria

ODD ANDERSEN

The spotlight has primarily been on Poland and Hungary as the main member states where authoritarianism is increasing in Europe, but it is important to look at other member states as well.  Recently there have been concerns about media freedom and judicial independence in Austria currently led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Concerns about Austria becoming more authoritarian like Hungary originate in 2019. This is the year a video was leaked which shows Hans Christian Strache, leader of the Freedom Party for Austria stating Hungary is a role model for Austria. Given the democratic backsliding in Hungary, this statement cannot be interpreted as positive. After this video was leaked, accusations that the “Orbanisation” of Austria was occurring started to appear.

One area of concern is the potential for media freedom to decline in Austria. Austria is currently ranked higher than other countries in Europe and is currently ranked 17th worldwide in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index. This is higher than Spain (29th), United Kingdom (33rd), France (34th), and Italy (40th).  This is higher than numerous countries including those in Western Europe which tend to be ranked higher than those in Eastern Europe. The problem is that recent developments in Austrian media may threaten its current ranking. In particular, there are concerns that Chancellor Kurz has a strong influence on Austrian Media, similar to how Prime Minister Victor Orban has influenced Hungarian media. In the case of Austria, Rene Benko who has accumulated a net worth of 4.7 billion euros has bought large stakes in Austrian media companies and happens to be a supporter of Chancellor Kurz. Rene Benko bought 25 percent of the two largest media companies in Austria. According to Fritz Huasjell, an Austrian median historian, Rene Benko intends to be an active owner of these companies.

Motivating the concerns that Rene Benko may influence these media companies in favor of Chancellor Kurz follows an incident that involves a real estate transaction. A district court was opened specially for Benko during the holidays to buy a property worth 60 million euros in Vienna. Not only was the district court specially opened for Benko, but a government official also had to return from vacation in order to complete the transaction. Huasjell believes there would have been other interested buyers in the property, but preference was shown to Benko.

Besides concerns over Benko potentially influencing the media companies he bought portions of, there are concerns over party-run newspapers. Party newspapers have been around for years in Austria, but the concern is that three political parties may be misleading readers due to how they are published. Sozialdemokratische Partei (Österreichs Social Democratic Party), Österreichische Volkspartei (Austrian People’s Party), and Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (Freedom Party of Austria) publish newspapers yet the newspapers appear as if they are neutral instead of party-run newspapers. Even though established newspapers may have their own political biases, it is likely worse with party newspapers which understandably would be biased in favor of themselves and politicians that represent the party that publishes the newspaper.

While there have also been concerns about judicial independence in Austria, but these concerns may be unfounded. While Kurz has made comments showing resentment towards the judiciary, he has not made any changes threatening judiciary independence as Orban has in Hungary. An example is when Chancellor Kurz was angry about the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office investigating eight members of his party including himself. Kurz stated, “There has been so much misconduct that I believe that there is an urgent need for change there.”

While lawmakers in Austria are concerned by this statement, considering Kurz has not taken action against the Prosecutor’s office, Kurz cannot be compared to Orban who has made changes to the judiciary in Hungary. Understandably there are concerns over this happening since the European Union has struggled to address attacks on judiciary independence in Hungary and Poland. If Kurz were to make amendments to judiciary independence in Austria, the European Union may struggle to address it as well.

Unlike Victor Orban, Kurz is battling investigations into his conduct as Chancellor with the help of his mother. He is using his mother as a witness to the alleged poor treatment he has faced from these investigations and opposing political parties. When talking to the daily Kronen Zeitung Kurz stated “My mother is extremely sad and worried” and that “She says she wished something else for me than politics and this treatment.”