Austrian Parliament Lifts Immunity of FPÖ Leader Herbert Kickl

The decision allows prosecutors to investigate Kickl for alleged false testimony, while three other FPÖ members face separate allegations.

The Austrian Parliament voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, enabling a judicial investigation into alleged false statements made during a parliamentary inquiry.
The decision was supported by all parliamentary factions except the FPÖ, which opposed the move and criticized it as politically motivated.
Kickl is accused of providing false testimony related to advertising contracts and a marketing agency during a parliamentary committee hearing.
Three additional FPÖ members are under scrutiny for allegedly violating Austria's NS-Verbotsgesetz by singing a historically sensitive song, with their immunity also revoked for investigation.
The FPÖ, Austria's largest party following the September 2024 election, remains isolated as other parties negotiate a coalition government excluding them.