Austria: President Van der Bellen accepts petition for pardon by Heinz Fischer

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer has submitted a petition for pardon to the current President Alexander Van der Bellen.

The petition concerns a conviction for defamation that Fischer received in 2019.

The petition was submitted on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, and is now being reviewed by the President's office.

Fischer was convicted of defamation in 2019 for comments he made about a former government official. He was fined €4,000 and ordered to pay legal costs.

Fischer has always maintained that his comments were true and that he was exercising his right to free speech. He has also said that he regrets the way in which he expressed his views.

It is not yet known whether President Van der Bellen will grant Fischer's petition. However, the President has the power to pardon individuals who have been convicted of crimes.

If Fischer's petition is granted, it would be a significant development. It would set a precedent for the use of pardons in Austria and could lead to other individuals seeking pardons for convictions that they believe to be unjust.