Wolfgang Sobotka, the President of the Austrian National Council, has firmly declined to resign from his position amidst accusations from opposition parties of misusing his office.
In a statement made to the National Council on Thursday, Sobotka asserted that the allegations against him are entirely baseless.
He specifically addressed the controversial audio recording attributed to him, which has sparked the current uproar regarding his resignation, stating it was obtained illegally and denying any conversation with Christian Pilnacek, a former official in the Ministry of Justice, as allegedly indicated in the recording.
Sobotka expressed deep regret over the partisan discussions concerning his removal from the position of the National Council’s President. He emphasized his intention to continue his duties as usual, in accordance with the law.
In Sobotka’s defense, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated that it is not permissible to vote for the removal of the National Council’s President from his post and that he cannot be dismissed.
Furthermore, Nehammer announced that Justice Minister Alma Zadic will form an investigative committee to thoroughly examine these serious allegations.
This development follows the leak of a supposed audio recording involving Sobotka and a former Ministry of Justice official, allegedly discussing illegal activities that would benefit his party at the expense of the parliament.
On a separate note, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed the extension of border controls with the Czech Republic for an additional 20 days.
This decision stems from global security concerns, emphasizing the urgent need to combat human trafficking mafias and thwart terrorist threats.
In his statement, Karner underscored the significance of border surveillance as a critical measure against smuggling mafias.
The current global situation makes these controls also crucial for counter-terrorism efforts, as reported by the Middle East News Agency.
Karner added that border monitoring is essential not only for combating human trafficking but also as a strategy in the war against terrorism.
He pointed out that such measures partially stem from funding by smuggling mafias, and allow for thorough inspections of individuals at the border.
