Secret services

German parties warn of FPÖ government

The German Federal Intelligence Service could restrict cooperation with the Austrian partner services(Bild: APA/dpa/Wolfgang Kumm)

Should the FPÖ be in the next government, this could once again jeopardize cooperation between the intelligence services between Germany and Austria, as was the case after the unlawful raid on the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (predecessor of today's Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence) in 2018 under the then Interior Minister Herbert Kickl.

The representatives of two German parliamentary parties warned of a strain on intelligence service relations with Austria. "If the FPÖ enters government, this would mean that Germany would have to put its intelligence cooperation with Austria to the test," explained Konstantin Kuhle, deputy leader of the German FDP parliamentary group and member of the intelligence control committee, to the German newspaper Handelsblatt on Wednesday. He cited the attitude of the Freedom Party towards Russia as a reason for this.

Herbert Kickl's party's participation in government is apparently also causing concern among Germany's neighbors.(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

CDU: "Absolute burden"
It was unacceptable for relevant information to be "passed on directly to Russia". CDU security politician Roderich Kiesewetter also described a possible blue government participation as an "absolute burden for intelligence cooperation".

SPÖ: "Would be deaf in terms of intelligence"
The SPÖ naturally takes a similar view. According to defense spokesman Robert Laimer, SPD and Green MPs are also in favor of an "enormous restriction of intelligence cooperation" with Austria if the worst comes to the worst. "We would be deaf in terms of intelligence if the FPÖ were in government," he criticizes.