Werner Faymann

A few months after the humanitarian opening in 2015, Faymann supported a sharp reduction in asylum applications and an annual ceiling. The reversal prompted criticism from the left, while legal experts questioned whether a rigid ceiling was compatible with asylum law.

State of the evidence

Change in policy, numerical targets and criticism documented

Attribution

Political responsibility as Chancellor

Weakened by divisions within the SPÖ, poor election results and conflicts over his migration policy, Faymann resigned as Chancellor and party president in May 2016.

State of the evidence

Resignation and internal crisis documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility as Chancellor and SPÖ leader

In early September 2015, Faymann coordinated with Angela Merkel the admission and passage of thousands of refugees stranded in Hungary. The decision, taken during a humanitarian emergency, became a major point of debate in Europe about border control and the distribution of refugees.

State of the evidence

Government decision and coordination with Germany documented

Legal status — source text

No personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility as Chancellor

Faymann compared the Hungarian government's treatment of refugees with practices reminiscent of Europe's darkest period and Nazi deportations. Viktor Orbán and his government protested strongly.

State of the evidence

Public remarks and diplomatic reaction documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Personal responsibility for the comparison

The Faymann government chose a bad-bank solution for Hypo Alpe-Adria rather than allowing the bank to become insolvent. The opposition criticised the potential cost to taxpayers and accused the government of acting too late or favouring an excessively costly solution.

State of the evidence

Government decision and opposition criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No personal criminal conviction associated with the decision

Attribution

Political responsibility as Chancellor

Faymann was the subject of an investigation into possible advertising expenditure by public companies intended to secure favourable media coverage while he was a minister. Prosecutors ultimately closed the case against him.

State of the evidence

Investigation and closure of the case documented

Legal status — source text

Investigation closed without charges or conviction against Faymann

Attribution

Personally implicated as a former minister; suspicions not upheld at the conclusion of the investigation

Faymann and Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer sent Kronen Zeitung a letter announcing that major future changes to European treaties should be put to a referendum in Austria. The SPÖ's abrupt change of position was criticised as a populist concession to a powerful tabloid and aggravated the coalition crisis.

State of the evidence

Public letter and change in political position documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Personal political responsibility alongside Alfred Gusenbauer