Austria does not exactly have any glorious dealings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Actually, he is a man of the big stage – from the concert hall to the U-committee. And Volodymyr Zelensky would also offer Wolfgang Sobotka – as the host President of the National Council – a very big stage. That’s another reason why it’s a bit surprising that Sobotka is now so hesitant. And refers to or hides behind the usages in the National Council, according to which an invitation like that to the Ukrainian President to speak in the Austrian National Council can/should only be issued with the consensus of all parties represented there.

A special session would have been planned for next week. But if the FPÖ doesn’t want to, then nothing will happen. The SPÖ didn’t want to at first either, but would now supposedly want to again – and refers to the national president. He could decide that on his own.

Then Wolfgang Sobotka should just do it. Most likely not even Armin Thurnher would interpret that as a self-important, presumptuous act. “Slava Ukrajini” could then be said by Sobotka, like US Parliament President Nancy Pelosi and others, in order to make us forget this not exactly glorious chapter of Austrian parliamentarianism.

In the parliaments in which Zelensky has appeared so far, he has addressed each nation on a country-specific basis. For the Germans, there was the Wall, for the Americans Pearl Harbour, for the British Winston Churchill. Certainly with critical undertones. With us, neutrality would be ideal. If you let him talk.