In the Austrian coalition dispute over a far-reaching EU environmental law, the conservative chancellor’s party ÖVP has made good on its threat and filed a complaint against Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). The criminal complaint for alleged abuse of office was received by the Vienna public prosecutor’s office on Thursday, a spokeswoman for the authority told the dpa news agency. Chancellor Karl Nehammer nevertheless reiterated that he would not dissolve the coalition before the election in September.
Gewessler had agreed to the EU renaturation law on Monday “unlawfully and unconstitutionally,” according to the complaint, which was made available to the German Press Agency. However, according to the constitution, the minister would have been bound by the negative stance of the Austrian federal states, it was said. From the point of view of the ÖVP lawyers, she should also have discussed her step with the conservative Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig.
With Gewessler’s approval, a narrow majority among EU states was able to support the law, which is intended to restore forests, moors and other natural areas. “I am very happy that I was able to make a contribution to this,” said the minister on Thursday. “I am very relaxed about any legal steps that may be taken,” she said.
She argued that ÖVP ministers had also made decisions at EU level in the past against the will of the Greens. Conservatives and agricultural representatives fear that the new EU law will lead to cuts for farmers and thus impact food production in the EU.