Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA2199
2005-06-29 14:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIA: CARINTHIAN STATE LEGISLATURE BLOCKS

Tags:  KNAR PHUM PGOV AU 
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UNCLAS VIENNA 002199 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/AGS AND EUR/OHI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR PHUM PGOV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: CARINTHIAN STATE LEGISLATURE BLOCKS
KAMPL FROM ASSUMING CHAIR OF FEDERAL UPPER HOUSE

REF: VIENNA 1484

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.

UNCLAS VIENNA 002199

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/AGS AND EUR/OHI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR PHUM PGOV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: CARINTHIAN STATE LEGISLATURE BLOCKS
KAMPL FROM ASSUMING CHAIR OF FEDERAL UPPER HOUSE

REF: VIENNA 1484

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.


1. (sbu) On June 29, The Carinthian State Legislature
blocked controversial nationalist Siegfried Kampl
(formerly BZO, now an Independent) from becoming
president of the Federal Upper House. In a special
session all but one of the 33 State Legislators present
voted to drop Kampl. Instead, BZO Member Peter Mitterer
(58) will assume the rotating 6-month chair of Austria's
Upper House on July 1. Kampl, who remains a member of the
Federal Upper House, said he would challenge the move
before Austria's constitutional court.


2. (sbu) Kampl had unleashed a storm of protest in April
when he complained of "brutal persecution" of Nazis after
World War II and described "some WWII deserters" as
"murderers of their comrades" (reftel). In response, on
June 6, the national parliament passed a constitutional
amendment allowing state legislatures to change the rank-
order of their representatives to the Upper House. This
ranking determines who will assume the presidency of the
chamber (which rotates among the states every six
months).


3. (sbu) In a related development June 29, the Vienna
state legislature unanimously voted to lift the immunity
of controversial Vienna legislator John Gudenus. Gudenus
had recently made statements questioning the existence of
gas chambers in the Third Reich. This will clear the way
for the public prosecutor to initiate preliminary
investigations against Gudenus for violation of Austria's
law against neo-Nazi activities.

Brown