Upper Austrian ÖVP proposes safeguards for 2027 election

Upper Austrian state parliament President Max Hiegelsberger of the ÖVP has announced an initiative to protect the 2027 state election from disinformation and possible foreign interference, ORF reported. Talks with all parliamentary groups are due to begin in November.

Hiegelsberger said democracy and freedom should not be taken for granted. People must be able to form their own opinions and make decisions based on reliable information, he said.

He pointed to what he described as growing attempts by foreign actors to influence democratic processes in Europe. Russia, in particular, uses disinformation campaigns to deepen social divisions and undermine trust in democratic institutions, he said. New capabilities enabled by artificial intelligence also pose risks, as images, videos and voices can now be convincingly faked.

The initiative will first bring together experts from different fields to assess threats to democratic processes and discuss possible safeguards. It will then consider which specific measures are practical and appropriate at state level, Hiegelsberger said.

All parties represented in the Upper Austrian state parliament will also be invited to help develop a joint agreement to protect democratic elections. Hiegelsberger said fair rules should apply to everyone and that protecting democracy should not be a matter of party affiliation.