Justice dispute: everyone against everyone

Vienna. A violent legal dispute has been raging this week – on several fronts. At a “round table” (as VP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz calls it) or a discussion (as Justice Minister Alma Zadic sees it) with the civil servants’ representatives on Monday at 10 a.m., the waves are to be smoothed out again. It all started with the Chancellor’s criticism of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office – voiced in a background discussion with journalists, and then played to the public. The WKStA immediately protested against speculations that “give the appearance of partisan politics in the room”.

Briefly brings his confidant in the matter of justice to tomorrow’s meeting: Karoline Edtstadler. Her mark ÖVP Chancellery Minister, but formerly Chief Prosecutor at the WKStA. She stands behind Kurz and also sees the long process times as a problem.

It is also the first real coalition crash

Justice Minister Zadic, like the green Vice Chancellor Kogler, is behind the WKStA: there is no evidence for a political issue. In any case, both Zadic and the representatives of the prosecutors want to use the conversation to push for better personnel and financial resources in the judiciary.

Another front in the judicial dispute: a file note dated July 1997, which comes from a renowned Viennese law firm, has been circulating since Friday. The minutes of the meeting were said to have discussed how the SPÖ could increase its influence in the judiciary.

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