Police training materials call inquiry committee a 'political tribunal'

Training materials prepared for Austrian police have controversially labeled a parliamentary investigative committee as a "political tribunal." The document, created under the auspices of the Interior Ministry, reportedly focuses heavily on strategies for witnesses to evade or deflect questions posed by lawmakers during hearings.

This approach has drawn criticism, particularly from the FPÖ party. FPÖ parliamentary group leader Christian Hafenecker publicly denounced the training materials on Monday. He questioned the purpose of such documents, suggesting they aim to obstruct the committee's work rather than facilitate truthful testimony.

However, the ÖVP party defended the training. Andreas Hanger, the ÖVP's parliamentary group leader, supported the initiative, framing it as a necessary preparation for police officers who may be called to testify. The core question the training appears to address is how individuals summoned to an investigative committee can provide crucial information while potentially navigating politically charged questioning.