Platform for defensive Austria
The conscription platform for a defensive Austria was founded on September 22nd, 2015 as the "umbrella organization of Austrian military associations". The umbrella organization is politically independent and represents over 250,000 members in Austria. It is therefore the "largest lobby for the Austrian Armed Forces ". The association pursues for the purpose of maintaining and expanding Austria's ability to fight and defend itself
- political advocacy for general conscription according to Art. 9a para. 3 B-VG,
- the advocacy of comprehensive national defense according to Art. 9a para. 1 and 2 B-VG,
- as well as advocating national military defense as such, in particular for the militia system, according to Art. 79 para. 1 B-VG.
Members of the association
The Wehrhaftes Österreich platform includes full and extraordinary members. Ordinary members can be military associations and associations of supraregional importance. These are
- Austrian officers' society
- Austrian Society of NCOs
- Austrian Comradeship Association
- Interest group of the professional officers
- Association of Austrian Peacekeepers
Associations of regional and subject-specific importance can be admitted to the umbrella organization as extraordinary members. These are currently (as of February 2020, in the order of joining):
- Traditional association of the Saxon dragons
- Rainerbund Salzburg
- Military music friends Austria
- Militia working group - Club Maria Theresia
- Lower Austrian Military History Society
- Interest group comprehensive national defense
- Comradeship Field Marshal Radetzky Upper Austria
- Comradeship from Edelweiss Steiermark
- Military parachutists Verbund-Ostarrichi
- Militia Association Austria
- Pharmaceutical Military Comradeship Association
- Austrian batch company
founding
As early as 2010, there was an informal collaboration in eastern Austria ( Vienna , Lower Austria , Burgenland ) in order to help shape opinion for the referendum on maintaining general conscription on January 20, 2013. After the clear majority vote of the population in the referendum on compulsory military service in Austria in 2013 , cooperation at the federal level was continued.
Military activities
Since 2014, the "Conscription Day" has been celebrated on January 20th with various events.
In the brochure "On the way to a new conscription" the political pro and contra arguments in the run-up to the 2013 referendum were documented.
In autumn 2015 a citizens' initiative "Stop the destruction of the armed forces! For a safer Austria" was started, which was signed by 45,000 people and handed over to parliament in April 2016.
Before the National Council election in October 2017, the platform presented a position paper with security policy expectations of a future federal government. In March 2018, the platform expressed strong criticism of the federal army budget for 2018/19 and the financial framework law until 2022. This criticism was joined a year later - in March 2019 - by the chief of the general staff, General Robert Brieger , with the support of Defense Minister Mario Kunasek with his "appeal for effective national defense".
Chair
The umbrella organization is chaired by the President's Conference. This elects a chairman who represents the platform externally.
- 1st Chairman from September 22, 2015 - ongoing: Brigadier Erich Cibulka (as of November 2019)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Final result of the 2013 referendum
- ↑ On the way to a new conscription
- ^ Citizens' initiative "Stop the destruction of the armed forces! For a safe Austria"
- ↑ Position paper press conference on September 6, 2017
- ^ Criticism of the Armed Forces budget APA / OTS of March 26, 2018
- ^ Appeal for effective national defense