All five invited respondents, including ex-FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache, have canceled, reported SPÖ parliamentary group leader Jan Krainer on Tuesday in a press conference. Although attempts will be made to load other people, it is not at all sure whether the load can be delivered on time.
Thursday should have ended the surveys about the potential buyability of the turquoise-blue government and other causes that Strache’s statements in the Ibiza video had caused. Most recently, only the former FPÖ boss and an officer in the Ministry of Justice were likely to provide information. Both have now apologized, Strache due to illness.
The meeting on Thursday in any case also means the absolute end of the surveys, as the ÖVP and the Greens did not agree to an extension until the end. From then on, the political groups will have four weeks to write their final reports, which will then go to the plenary session of Parliament. The procedural judge has to deliver his report just two weeks after the end of the last session.
