Dead Queen triggers flag chaos in Austria – politics
In honor of the Queen, the flags are to be flown at half-mast in Austria on Monday. There is already a lot of excitement surrounding the directive.
For many years Austria had a “Flag Day” (October 26th). It’s that time again on Monday – and let’s anticipate one thing: the discussions are still a long way from reaching the top of the flagpole. But first things first: After 70 years at the head of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II star on Thursday. The sympathy around the world is enormous. In Austria, too, people want to show sympathy, but – not entirely untypically – slip into a political farce.
“The EU flag must be hauled down”
A letter from the Federal Chancellery reached the federal states on Friday. On the day of the funeral (Monday), the flags on buildings owned by the federal government should be flown at half-mast. “The EU flag must be lowered,” it says. Explosive background: The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the Union. Attached was the request to make a similar decree for public buildings in the state area.
Red Rebellion
Hans Peter Doskozil’s office in Burgenland, ruled by the Reds, says: “We will comply with the request from the Chancellery.” However, with one specification: All flags will be flown at half-mast in front of state administration buildings – “including the EU flag”.
Carinthia’s governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) does the same as his party colleague: “We will set all flags, including the EU flag, at half-mast in the state administration’s official buildings.” Vienna wants to comply with the Federal Chancellery’s request for a specific response the question of the EU flag does not exist.
No EU mourning
The approach of the red grandees could now make some protocol supporters see black: However, the Austrian Foreign Ministry says: “Basically, the custom is that you can only fly your own flag at half-mast. EU-wide mourning would have to be proclaimed for the EU flag.” But because that didn’t happen, it was caught up (or in some federal states it wasn’t).
In Germany, on the other hand, the same regulation was chosen as in the red federal states. However, the federal government’s protocol page states: “If the federal (service) flag is flown at half-mast during a mourning display, the European flag must also be flown at half-mast.”
Community opposes country
Black Lower Austria is mourning in a manner befitting its status and has also asked the municipalities to put up mourning flags on state-owned buildings and those in which state offices are housed. Other flags should not be hoisted.
Red communities like Trumau (district of Baden) refuse this procedure. Mayor Andreas Kollross sits on the National Council for the SPÖ. “Sorry dear Lower Austria, but as mayor and a convinced democrat I will not accept this invitation to my community. You can also overdo it,” he stormed on Twitter.