Austrian Justice Minister calls for reform of Federal Prosecutor Office

Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ) has initiated a meeting to discuss the fundamental revision of the draft law for the Federal Prosecutor Office. The proposal faced significant criticism from legal experts and high-ranking justice officials during its review phase.

A central point of contention involves the de-politicization of instructions in criminal proceedings. While the simple law component falls under the Justice Ministry, the constitutional aspects are managed by the Federal Chancellery under Alexander Pröll (ÖVP).

The meeting included Justice Minister Sporrer, Neos Justice Spokesperson Sophie Wotschke, and former Green Justice Minister Alma Zadić. A key disagreement remains regarding the extent of parliamentary involvement, specifically whether members of parliament should participate in the selection of federal prosecutors and have the authority to monitor ongoing proceedings. Because the law requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, reaching a consensus among the coalition parties and the opposition is essential.