Austria's far-right controlled interior ministry sends police list of critical media outlets whose access to restrict

Minister forced to defend commitment to press freedom

Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl at a news conference in Vienna (REUTERS)

Austria’s far-right controlled interior ministry has been caught compiling a list of critical media outlets for distribution to the country’s police force with orders to revoke access to their journalists.

The department, which controls the country’s security services, is led by politicians from the populist FPOe under the coalition the party struck with conservative PM Sebastian Kurz.

The outlets on the list, which include established newspapers, are accused of “one-sided and negative” reporting and singled out for restricted access to government officials and stories.

A four-page email sent to the police and leaked to some of the outlets named suggests “limiting communication with these media to the minimum

legal requirement” and warns against “enabling exclusive coverage”. The ministry has confirmed the email is authentic.

The outlets include Falter, Kurier, and Der Standard, which reported the order after it obtained a copy of the emailed.

Der Standard, a daily newspaper, has a large web presence takes a socially liberal editorial stance.

Our democracy should not die in darkness because a minister feels too weak to withstand criticism and is clearly unsuitable for this sensitive position

Kurier

Austria’s interior minister is Herbert Kickl, who hails from the FPOe. In a statement Mr Kickl tried to defuse the scandal and said he was committed to press freedom.

“Freedom of the press is inviolable and a substantial pillar of a democratic society," he said.

“A trustful relationship with the media is important to me, particularly in view of the sensitive material that our department handles. Any restriction of press freedom is completely unthinkable.”

The Kurier, one of the targeted newspaper wrote in an editorial: “Our democracy should not die in darkness because a minister feels too weak to withstand criticism and is clearly unsuitable for this sensitive position.”

Opposition parties, including the social democrats SPOe, have called for the minister’s resignation over the move.

Speaking on a visit to the UN in New York the chancellor Mr Kurz said limits on press freedom were unacceptable that “shutting out or boycotting specific media shouldn't happen in Austria”.