FPÖ on the Machine Tax: Against it in Vienna, for it in Strasbourg?

Paneuropa Youth Criticism: FPÖ’s Vilimsky Voted for Machine Tax in Strasbourg

Strasbourg / Vienna (OTS) – While the FPÖ federal party leadership in Vienna constantly emphasises its opposition to the machine tax demanded by the SPÖ, FPÖ delegation leader Harald Vilimsky and two other FPÖ MEPs voted in favour of the report on civil law rules on robotics by the Luxembourgish Socialist Mady Delvaux during the most recent plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In doing so, they voted literally for the “(…) taxation of the work performed by a robot or the payment of a fee for the use and maintenance of each robot (…) in order to maintain social cohesion and welfare,” which is to say, for the introduction of a machine tax.

“Particularly when one repeatedly criticises the European Union for interfering in too many national affairs and insists it must not be given tax sovereignty, this voting behaviour is, at the very least, inconsistent,” criticises Philipp Jauernik, Federal Chairman of Paneuropa Youth Austria. Furthermore, the question remains: which FPÖ line applies to this economic policy issue? That of the federal party leadership, or that of the Brussels delegation head?

Problematic Stance on the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty

In addition, the PEJ chief demands a clarification from Vilimsky regarding his relationship with the positions of his parliamentary group colleague Marine Le Pen, particularly concerning the reintroduction of the death penalty. While other MEPs fortunately distanced themselves clearly, Vilimsky remained silent. “On such a vital issue – a matter of fundamental rights – there can be no room for indecision,” Jauernik makes clear.

Note: The voting result for the passage in question, “Recital K”, can be found at the following link (pages 101-102). The FPÖ members Vilimsky, Mayer, and Kappel (ENF group) voted in favour, while Obermayr abstained. Kappel subsequently changed her vote to an abstention.

Link to the voting record. The voting results for the sub-point in question, “Recital K”, can be found on pages 101 and 102.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fNONSGML%2bPV%2b20170216%2bRES-RCV%2bDOC%2bPDF%2bV0%2f%2fDE&language=DE