Government dispute over the marriage of minors abroad!
Austrian politicians have agreed on the necessity for children to learn in schools, rather than being married off. However, the disagreement still exists regarding how to implement this. Austrian Justice Minister Anna Schober of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) warned her colleague, Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), against making 'hasty decisions.'
The Austrian government is seeking to expand the scope of the marriage ban, so that it is not limited to preventing marriages of those under 18 or marriages between relatives (such as marriages between cousins), but also includes not recognizing future marriages of minors that are contracted abroad. Integration Minister Blakolm has called on her colleague Schbur to take legal responsibility in this matter.
Shabour reported through the newspaper "Krone" clarifying that child marriage or forced marriage concluded abroad is not recognized at all in Austria, due to what is known as the "public order" condition (ordre public), which prevents the application of foreign laws that conflict with the fundamental principles of the Austrian legal system.
However, she emphasized that any additional legal changes must be discussed carefully and thoughtfully. She stated that hasty political decisions should not be made in this context, as the changes will affect many parties, such as municipalities and marriage offices, that deal with these cases. Therefore, it is essential to involve all relevant institutions at both federal and local levels.
On the other hand, the government presented a new integration package on Wednesday, but some key details – such as the organization of social assistance – have not yet been clarified. Blackholm emphasized that anyone wishing to stay in Austria must learn the German language, seek employment, and respect Austrian laws. Therefore, the government proposes a three-year waiting period for social assistance, accompanied by a mandatory three-year integration program.