AustriaDemokratie 8 · Democracy and the Republic's core principles
A landlord offers a flat publicly. He turns down a family only because of their skin colour. What applies?
In the exam (German)
Ein Vermieter bietet eine Wohnung öffentlich an. Er lehnt eine Familie nur wegen ihrer Hautfarbe ab. Was gilt?
- aThis is allowed as long as the landlord gives no reason for turning them down.Das ist erlaubt, solange der Vermieter keinen Grund für die Absage nennt.
- bThis is only forbidden if the family has Austrian citizenship.Das ist nur verboten, wenn die Familie die österreichische Staatsbürgerschaft hat.
- cThis is forbidden discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin.Das ist eine verbotene Diskriminierung wegen der ethnischen Zugehörigkeit.Correct answer
- dThis is allowed because renting out a flat is always a purely private matter.Das ist erlaubt, weil die Vermietung einer Wohnung immer reine Privatsache ist.
Why?
For flats that are offered publicly, the Equal Treatment Act (Gleichbehandlungsgesetz) forbids putting someone at a disadvantage because of their ethnic origin. Turning someone down because of their skin colour falls under this, because in the law skin colour counts as part of ethnic origin. People affected can get free advice, for example from the Ombud for Equal Treatment (Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft).
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Die Meinungsfreiheit hat in Österreich Grenzen. Was ist verboten? — Die Verbrechen des Nationalsozialismus, etwa den Holocaust, öffentlich zu leugnen · Öffentlich zu Hass oder Gewalt gegen eine Religionsgemeinschaft oder eine Volksgruppe aufzurufen
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Eine Gruppe möchte auf einem öffentlichen Platz gegen höhere Mieten demonstrieren. Was gilt dafür? — Sie muss die Versammlung mindestens 48 Stunden vorher bei der Behörde anzeigen; die Versammlung muss friedlich ablaufen.
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What is part of every individual's freedom of religion in Austria?Correct answer:You may change to another religion.
Correct answer:You may also live without any religious affiliation.
Was gehört in Österreich zur Religionsfreiheit jedes einzelnen Menschen? — Man darf zu einer anderen Religion wechseln. · Man darf auch ohne Religionsbekenntnis leben.
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Which statement about state and religion in Austria is true?Correct answer:There is no state religion, and the state's laws apply to everyone, whatever their religion.
Welche Aussage über Staat und Religion in Österreich ist richtig? — Es gibt keine Staatsreligion, und die staatlichen Gesetze gelten für alle, egal welcher Religion.
Source
Our own practice questions on the content of the official learning material “Mein Österreich” and the federal states’ learning materials. They are not the real exam questions – those are not published – and we have not copied wording from the materials. Every question was answered a second time, independently, and checked against public sources. The English translation and the explanations were made with AI; in the exam the questions are asked in German. Not an official service: no connection with the Federal Ministry of the Interior or the offices of the state governments.
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