25. 01. 12. - 15:27

Pröll criticised for 'bizarre' idea

Erwin Pröll’s appeal to drastically reform the federal president’s role has earned mixed reactions.

The governor of the province of Lower Austria – who is widely regarded as one of the most influential members of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) – said on Monday the state could save some money by changing the office’s criteria.

Pröll said representatives of the federal parliament or the government could represent Austria abroad instead of the president. He said Austria could consider the presidential system of Switzerland. Members of the Swiss government take turns on an annual basis in the role.

The legislative period of the Austrian president lasts six years. Incumbent President Heinz Fischer said in 2010 – when he was confirmed in office – that the term of the president should be increased by two years. Fischer suggested keeping the president from running for a second term at the same time. Austria’s established political movements failed to fully support the proposal – which was not succeeded by detailed discussions.

Social Democratic (SPÖ) State Secretary Andreas Schieder branded Pröll’s idea "bizarre". He claimed the governor of Lower Austria made the suggestion only because someone else but him was Austria’s highest political representative at the moment. Pröll considered running for the position in 2010 but stopped all planning after realising that a nomination would lack unequivocal support by his own party.

Then-ÖVP Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll – Erwin Pröll’s nephew – reportedly tried to avoid a worsening of the climate within the coalition of his party and the SPÖ. Pollsters found at that time that Erwin Pröll was the only political personality in Austria with serious chances to beat Fischer – who eventually celebrated a landslide victory due to a lack of competitors from the political centre.

The ex-SPÖ science minister garnered nearly 80 per cent in the presidential ballot of 2010. He became president of the Republic of Austria for the first time in 2004 when Fischer managed to narrowly beat ex-ÖVP Foreign Minister and diplomat Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann said yesterday he was ready to discuss where cuts could be make and efficiency raised in Austria’s political institutions. However, the SPÖ leader also underlined that he opposed the idea to reform the presidential office in its current form. Faymann added he appreciated suggestions to reduce the number of parliament delegates. Pröll said the federal parliament could consist of just 165 members as in the 1960s. It currently features 183 members of five parties.

The Austrian president’s function, role and responsibilities are dominated by representative aspects. The person in charge – Austria is still waiting for its first female president – can reject laws and abstain from inaugurating ministers if he or she opposes their political attitude or sees other reasons making a nomination impossible.

Austria’s presidents only rarely asked the country’s governments to reconsider changes to the law. Some of them were harshly criticised for interfering daily politics too often while others angered Austrians by refusing to speak out on urgent topics. Fischer recently tried to get more involved in interior political concerns by calling for fair tax reforms. His first term in office failed to feature any low points or true highlights. These circumstances helped to increase the number of opinion leaders who suggested a reform of the presidential office.