Volksanwaltschaft

Summary

The Volksanwaltschaft (Austrian Ombudsman Board) is constitutionally established under Articles 148a-148j of the Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (B-VG) and governed by the Volksanwaltschaftsgesetz 1982. It is a collegial body of three members elected by the National Council (Nationalrat) for six-year terms, renewable once; members are sworn in by the Federal President and cannot be removed before the end of their term, ensuring strong independence. The three members rotate the chairpersonship annually on the basis of the proportional representation of the three largest parties in the Nationalrat. The Volksanwaltschaft investigates complaints from any person who believes that a federal administrative authority has acted unlawfully or inappropriately, and conducts own-motion investigations. Under the B-VG and the Volksanwaltschaftsgesetz, the Board has a statutory right of access to all files, premises, and information held by public authorities. Annual reports are submitted to the National Council and made public. The Board also functions as Austria's National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT, monitoring places of detention. The budget is a legislative line item.