Discipline warning in Carinthian parliament because of three words in Slovenian language

09.02.2026

Franc Jožef Smrtnik, a Carinthian Slovenian and member of the provincial parliament in Klagenfurt/Celovec, was reprimanded during a parliamentary session for using three expressions in Slovenian in his speech. The second president of the state parliament, Christoph Staudacher (FPÖ), issued Franz-Josef Smrtnik (Team Kärnten) with a call to order. Team Kärnten considers the incident to be scandalous. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has pledged its support to the member of parliament, according to reports by RTV Slovenija and ORF.

Franz-Josef Smrtnik began his speech on the Carinthian Hunting Association's activity report with the words: ‘Good afternoon from me too, lep popoldan, Waidmannsheil, lovski blagor.’ The Second President of the Provincial Parliament, Christoph Staudacher (FPÖ), immediately interrupted: ‘There is only one official language, Mr Member of Parliament, please stop this, otherwise I will issue a call to order.’

Bilingual choir mentioned

Smrtnik then thanked the hunters with the word Hvala/Thank you and a few minutes later mentioned the Bad Eisenkappel/Lovski zbor Železna Kapla hunters' choir. Staudacher interrupted again, referring to the rules of procedure of the state parliament: ‘Mr Smrtnik, I am issuing you a call to order.’ Smrtnik found this incomprehensible, as the choir officially bears both the German and Slovenian names.

More in original News from ORF: https://kaernten.orf.at/stories/3340892/