New Appointees for ORF's Governing Council: Fresh Faces Leading the Way in Government Decision-Making
Step into the buzzing heart of Austria, where the freshly minted coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS has shaken up the ORF boards in a swift political maneuver, driven by the Constitutional Court's 2023 ruling. The court slipped a noose around the government's influence in appointing ORF board members, leaving them high and dry.
To keep the powers-that-be at bay, the new trio swung into action with legislative reforms that just barely meet the Constitutional Court's requirements. The reforms also slashed the number of government-appointed supervisory board members from nine to six. For the very first time, expertise requirements were enshrined in law for these appointees, spanning areas such as media economics, business economics, communication, media law, and controlling.
The FPÖ, having clinched two spots on the ORF supervisory board thanks to the National Council election results, has reappointed Peter Westenthaler – a former politician with a sprinkle of controversy in his past – and brought on board Christoph Urtz, a university professor and ORF fee critic. The ÖVP has reappointed Ewald Aschauer, a professor at the Vienna University of Economics, whereas the SPÖ has kept Heinz Lederer, a PR professional rumored to be eyeing the chairmanship of the highest ORF body, on board. The NEOS and Greens have proposed Markus Boesch, a media lawyer, and Hildegard Aichberger, the head of the Environmental Agency, respectively.
For the ORF supervisory board, this isn't a simple job change; it's more like passing through the Eye of the Needle. As demanded by the Constitutional Court, they can no longer be recalled after elections (except those nominated by parties represented in the National Council). They must act independently, with all the duties of care and responsibility that come with supervising a joint-stock company. Their compensation is modest; a mere 50 euros in expense allowance and a 100-euro attendance fee for each participation.
In the new ORF setup, the Public Council, which sends nine members (previously six) to the Supervisory Board, will be making the final call on who these members will be. The new Supervisory Board is slated to hold its inaugural meeting on June 17, with a term of four years for both the ORF Public Council and the Supervisory Board.
The recent ORF board reform is more than just a face-lift; it's a leap toward greater independence and a more robust public broadcasting system. But the road to reform has seen some departures, including Supervisory Board Chairman Lothar Lockl, the former OVP Friendship Circle leader and business consultant Thomas Zach, art manager Herbert Fechter, media expert Anita Zielina, and Franz Medwenitsch, managing director of the Association of Austrian Music Industry. Whether these changes will bring sweeping changes or result in a monotonous, business-as-usual scenario remains to be seen.
- The new ORF supervisory board, consisting of members from ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS, FPÖ, and independent appointees, will be required to act independently given the new policy-and-legislation stemming from the Constitutional Court's 2023 ruling.
- General-news outlets have been closely following the political maneuverings surrounding the ORF board appointments, as the changes are seen as a major shift in the policy-and-legislation governing Austria's public broadcasting system.
