Lawmakers from the pro-Russia, far-proper Freedom Party walked out of the decrease residence of Austria`s parliament on Thursday in the course of a speech through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, protesting that it violated Austria’s neutrality.
Zelenskiy addressed the chamber thru video link, thanking Austria for its humanitarian resource and assist with tasks inclusive of clearing land mines. Austria says its neutrality prevents it from army involvement withinside the war and whilst it helps Ukraine politically it can not ship the u . s . guns in its combat in opposition to the Russian invasion.
The Freedom Party (FPO), however, had warned days earlier than that it’d preserve a few shape of protest in opposition to Zelenskiy’s address. Its lawmakers attended the begin of the speech after which left.
“It is unhappy that the FPO is the handiest birthday birthday celebration in parliament that takes our ever-lasting neutrality seriously, thereby additionally status up for peace,” FPO chief Herbert Kickl stated in a declaration on Tuesday.
Lawmakers who walked out of the chamber left small placards on their desks offering the birthday birthday celebration brand and either “area for neutrality” or “area for peace”.
Of the 5 events in parliament, the FPO has the third-largest range of seats withinside the decrease residence. It presently has a mild lead in opinion polls over the competition Social Democrats and Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservatives, who govern in coalition with the left-wing Greens. The modern-day parliament runs till autumn of subsequent year.