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Austria Opens Inquiries Into Gender Change Case Tied to Prison Placement and Pension Letter

Officials insist current law provides for case-by-case verification.

Overview

  • The Interior Ministry has tasked Vienna's registry authority with re-examining the psychiatric report that enabled the rapid gender re-registration, saying a sham certificate cannot be ruled out.
  • The Federal Criminal Police Office has begun investigations on suspicion of social-benefit fraud connected to the case.
  • The Pensions Insurance Institution said a letter indicating a retirement date at 61 was only provisional and reiterated that pension eligibility will be determined individually at the time of claim.
  • Justice authorities state that prison placement decisions are made case by case to protect all inmates' rights, while a legal expert noted the psychiatrist could face criminal liability if the report was improperly issued.
  • Politically, the FPÖ demands immediate legal clarifications, the ÖVP and SPÖ call for rigorous checks rather than new laws, NEOS signals possible procedural tightening, and the Greens describe the episode as abuse that must be punished.