Habsburg family demands right to seek Austrian presidency
Members of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty that ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire have asked for the right to run for the Austrian presidency.
Rudolf Vouk, their lawyer, said the family has lodged a request for the repeal of a 90-year-old ban that prohibits its members from being elected Austria's head of state.
"Such a disposition is no longer justifiable and contravenes the right to free and democratic elections" as well as the principle of equality before the law, Mr Vouk said.
The family's application to end the ban - a year before Austria's next presidential elections - was filed with the constitutional council, with a copy sent to Werner Faymann, the Austrian Chancellor.
The Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1438 to 1806, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 until its demise in 1918 with defeat in the First World War.
Read entire article at telegraph.co.uk
Rudolf Vouk, their lawyer, said the family has lodged a request for the repeal of a 90-year-old ban that prohibits its members from being elected Austria's head of state.
"Such a disposition is no longer justifiable and contravenes the right to free and democratic elections" as well as the principle of equality before the law, Mr Vouk said.
The family's application to end the ban - a year before Austria's next presidential elections - was filed with the constitutional council, with a copy sent to Werner Faymann, the Austrian Chancellor.
The Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1438 to 1806, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 until its demise in 1918 with defeat in the First World War.