Austria’s government proposes a new federal prosecutor’s office to curb political influence on judicial investigations.

The Austrian government has unveiled plans to establish a ‘Federal Prosecutor’s Office’ to ensure greater independence for prosecutors and reduce political influence on judicial investigations. This move comes in the wake of ongoing scrutiny surrounding the death of Christian Pilnacek, a former high-ranking Justice Ministry official, whose case has raised questions about political interference in legal proceedings.

Under the proposed legislation, the new Federal Prosecutor’s Office would replace the Justice Minister at the top of the prosecutorial chain of command. The office would be led by three members selected through a multi-stage process involving experts and the National Council, ensuring both independence and parliamentary oversight. NEOS leader and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasized the importance of eliminating any perception that power or money could influence justice. The proposal follows years of debate and criticism from the EU regarding the potential for political meddling in Austria’s judicial system.