politische Akademien#

Political Academies: On July 9, 1972 the Nationalrat (National Council) passed the "Federal Law on the promotion of civic education on the subject of political parties and journalism" (Bundesgesetz ueber die Foerderung staatsbuergerlicher Bildungsarbeit im Bereich der politischen Parteien sowie der Publizistik). This was followed in 1973 by the founding of Political Academies run by the parties represented in the Nationalrat: Dr.-Karl-Renner-Institut (SPOe, Austrian Socialist Party), Politische Akademie (OeVP, Austrian People's Party), and Freiheitliches Bildungswerk (FPOe, Austrian Freedom Party), and in 1987 Gruene Bildungswerkstatt (Green Party). Their aim was to promote civic, political and cultural education, and provide insights into the way in which political, economic, judicial and social issues are interrelated by training programmes, seminars, lectures, publications, etc. Financed from the federal budget; each Political Academy receives a basic payment of ATS 7 million and additional funds in proportion to their relative strength in the Nationalrat (total about ATS 114 million in 2000). Expenditures are monitored by the Court of Audit .