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FPÖ challenges exclusion of Vorarlberg militia soldiers from Covid-19 medal awards
The FPÖ has filed a parliamentary inquiry with Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner regarding the exclusion of militia soldiers in Vorarlberg from receiving the Covid-19 remembrance medal.
These soldiers performed deployment service during the 2020 pandemic. The Vorarlberg Military Command justified the exclusion by stating that militia soldiers do not qualify as ministry personnel under the current awarding guidelines. The FPÖ argues this interpretation contradicts how other military commands in Austria have handled the awards and describes the practice as an 'unjustified disadvantage' for those who served.
The ministry originally created the medal to recognize special services and support during the health crisis, procuring approximately 25,000 copies for nationwide distribution. MP Gerhard Kaniak is seeking clarification on whether the affected soldiers will be granted the medal retroactively.
Entities
Austria · FPÖ · Gerhard Kaniak · Klaudia Tanner · Vorarlberg Military Command
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Vorarlberg Military Command excluded the soldiers because they do not qualify as ministry personnel under the medal's awarding guidelines. www.bezirksjournal.at
- [● 2 SOURCES] The FPÖ claims militia soldiers in Vorarlberg have been unfairly disadvantaged by being excluded from receiving the Covid-19 remembrance medal. www.bezirksjournal.at · havadis.at
- [● 2 SOURCES] FPÖ MP Gerhard Kaniak submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner regarding the exclusion. www.bezirksjournal.at · havadis.at
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 25,000 medals were procured nationwide. www.bezirksjournal.at
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Defense created the Covid-19 remembrance medal to recognize special services during the pandemic. www.bezirksjournal.at · havadis.at