Demands special session

Westenthaler considers ORF levy unlawful

ORF Foundation Councillor Peter Westenthaler (FPÖ) criticized the budget levy on Tuesday.(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

ORF Foundation Councillor Peter Westenthaler (FPÖ) considers the medium's budget levy to be unlawful (see video above). The politician referred to a lawyer's letter signed by former BZÖ Foundation Councillor Alexander Scheer, among others. Westenthaler demanded a special meeting of the ORF committee.

There is no legally compliant ORF contribution because the procedure for determining the amount was not changed when the law was reformed. The Board of Trustees had not determined the amount. According to the letter, EUR 15.30 per month was only defined as the upper limit. Westenthaler said on Tuesday that as soon as even one decision is overturned in court, there could be an obligation to repay all contributions received to date. Several proceedings are currently being conducted against the household levy.

Peter Westenthaler(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

High administrative effort
The ORF and the federal government should have introduced budget financing. The amount of the levy is not reasonable for private households anyway, and the discussion about its administration is unbearable for the media company. 

Criticism also came from FPÖ Secretary General and media spokesperson Christian Hafenecker. He said that the Freedom Party was being politicized and that it was a "political fighting organ." "One already has the impression that the ORF is running as a party against the FPÖ in the National Council elections. We will regularly point this out and take an even closer look in future at how the ORF is developing politically," said Hafenecker.

NEOS: FPÖ dreams "of a media landscape like in Hungary"
 NEOS media spokesperson Henrike Brandstötter described the statements as "hardly surprising". The FPÖ dreams "of a media landscape like in Orban's Hungary." However, she also said that the ORF must finally be depoliticized in order to "escape the constant barrage of criticism."