[ad_1]
It is important to weigh “how much freedom we are willing to give up to protect our health, as is now the case with Covid”, and what remains reasonable, also when it comes to the economy.
A sense of proportion with restrictions
In this balancing act between fundamental rights, it is about “never losing the correct sense of proportion. Neither in one direction nor in the other direction”. “He will pay close attention to this,” said the federal president, welcoming the broad political consensus “in the meantime” that restrictions should only be applied as long as they are absolutely necessary.
The “correct sense of proportion” also requires respect for the constitution. Because no one can deny that “our constitution has excellently fulfilled its mission as the basis of state affairs and as a safeguard of fundamental rights in the hundred years of its existence.”
That’s what he meant by “the elegance of the constitution,” Van der Bellen recalled of his praise of the constitution in the Ibiza crisis last year: that it “allows the government crisis to be resolved without interpretative feats, simply by clear wording “. In May and June 2019, the constitution turned out to be “an excellent guide through an unprecedented situation in the Second Republic.”
“We do not get rid of all our personal responsibility”
Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) quoted paragraph 1 of the Federal Constitutional Law in her speech: “Austria is a democratic republic. Their rights are based on people: “Politicians” would act to the best of their knowledge and beliefs in the interest of citizens “, especially in times of crisis, even if decisions and communication are “even more difficult” in times of crisis.
The constitution minister also believes that citizens are bound by the constitution and democracy, that is, to use their freedoms and rights to shape and further develop the community.
The protection of civil liberties in the constitution does not mean that “we are exempt from all responsibility for ourselves.” On the contrary: the constitution does not aim for a “completely integral state”, the laws could never regulate every area of life to the smallest detail, “even if the need is particularly great in times of crisis”.
Edtstadler also addressed a current threat to democracy, namely the “downside of digitization” such as misinformation or hate on the internet. It endangers democracy “if people only perceive the world in limited filter bubbles and only reflect their opinion in their own echo chamber.”
The right to freedom of expression, including criticism of politics, “undoubtedly” existed. But that does not justify “the right to possess facts.” “It is our joint responsibility to strive for factual loyalty and objectivity in new media pluralism,” Edtstadler said, “it is up to us to protect our constitution from misuse.”
Ceremony under the sign of the pandemic
The pandemic not only dominated the greetings at the parliament’s centenary ceremony, but also the event itself: only a limited number of participants were invited to the national library, wearing a mouth guard and a large distance in assigned seats in the room.
Among others, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, VfGH President Christoph Grabenwarter, President of the Court of Audit Ingrid Kraker and former Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein were received. The celebration was not open to the media, but was broadcast on ORF III and on the parliament website.
