Austrian opposition leaves parliament chamber after Zelenskiy speech begins

WORLD, March 30 (YPA) – Members of Austria’s far-right FPÖ party walked out of parliament on Thursday in protest against a video speech by Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelenksy claiming it violated Austrian neutrality.

This came during the live broadcast of the session of the Austrian parliament on Thursday morning, as representatives of the Austrian opposition, deputies of the right-wing nationalist Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), left as soon as Vladimir Zelensky began his video speech.

The Ukrainian President delivered his speech in Ukrainian to the Austrian National Council via videoconference, with simultaneous interpretation into German. As soon as Zelensky began his speech, the memeners of the Austrian Freedom Party stood up and left the hall.

The Novosti correspondent reported early this morning that opponents of Zelensky’s speech had organized a rally to demand their country’s neutrality and resolve the Ukrainian conflict through diplomacy, while the leader of the right-wing nationalist Austrian Freedom Party Herbert Kickl told reporters that for representatives of his association, Zelensky’s speech in the Austrian parliament “has nothing to do with Austrian neutrality,” declaring a peaceful protest.

E.M