Holocaust Survivor Benno Kern Turns 99, His Testimony Highlights Shifting Parliamentary Norms

Benno Kern, a Holocaust survivor, is celebrating his 99th birthday by sharing his harrowing experiences of persecution and survival. His testimony, meticulously produced and accessible on the Austrian Parliament's website, recounts the chilling progression of antisemitic acts he witnessed as a child, from taunting songs and park segregation to the violent chaos of the November Pogroms.

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They should all know the truth. Not everyone welcomes the truth. Then you have to help.

Kern vividly describes the day he was attacked on his way to school, highlighting the brutality of the Hitler Youth and the complicity of ordinary citizens, like a coal merchant who tripped him. His survival of Auschwitz and a death march is a testament to an improbable resilience. His story serves as a stark reminder of the signals that preceded the Nazi genocide.

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The common coal merchant was the typical Austrian accomplice of the Nazi era.

The article then pivots to the administrative heart of the Austrian Parliament, describing its 490 employees as the "engine room" that ensures its smooth operation and public outreach. This administrative body has historically upheld the rules of liberal democracy. However, the piece raises concerns about potential changes under the current National Council President, Walter Rosenkranz of the FPÖ, suggesting a departure from established parliamentary customs and impartiality.

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It was parliamentary practice.