Austrian judicial leaders criticize Federal Prosecutor's Office reform

Legal experts and judicial representatives in Austria are criticizing government plans to establish a new Federal Prosecutor's Office, arguing the reform fails to ensure true political independence.

Margit Wachberger, head of the General Prosecutor's Office, expressed concerns that the proposal merely shifts political influence rather than eliminating it. She noted that under the current draft, the National Council would hold significant power over appointments and could control ongoing investigations, which she argues maintains the risk of non-objective motives influencing judicial decisions.

Gernot Kanduth, president of the Austrian Judges Association, echoed these warnings, stating that the reform does not meet the standards for a non-partisan leadership structure requested by international experts and anti-corruption organizations. Kanduth argued that moving influence from a federal minister to the National Council does not achieve depoliticization, emphasizing that a liberal democracy requires judicial spaces free from party politics.