Austria’s Steiermärkische Sparkasse bank has abruptly canceled the account of conservative media outlet Freilich just weeks after it exposed a secret meeting involving Germany’s Green Party and its push to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The move, which Freilich describes as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent, threatens the outlet’s ability to function, raising alarm among free press advocates.
“There is none—when we asked, we were not given a reason,” Freilich stated, rejecting the bank’s vague response. The outlet claims its only “crime” is practicing journalism outside the mainstream. Without access to banking, Freilich says it faces “an organizational catastrophe,” but vows to continue its work.
The investigative report in question had gained significant attention, both in Germany and internationally, for detailing Green Party efforts to outlaw the AfD. This comes as conservative and nationalist movements like the AfD and Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) reach record popularity, leading some to argue that political elites are seeking to suppress alternative voices by any means necessary.
Freilich sees the cancellation as part of a broader strategy targeting the entire conservative-liberal movement. “This attack isn’t just aimed at us,” they wrote, “but at the entire community of like-minded individuals.”
FPÖ leaders, including media spokesperson Christian Hafenecker, condemned the bank’s actions, calling it an outright attempt at “de-banking” conservative media. “The goal is to destroy critical voices and eliminate opinions outside the government-backed media mainstream,” Hafenecker said, slamming what he called a growing war on press freedom.
The shutdown comes amid broader efforts in Germany to silence conservative media. House raids on journalists and attempts to ban entire publications, such as Compact Magazine, highlight a worrying trend. Although a court temporarily reversed Compact’s ban, the German government’s actions—including deploying police without constitutional approval—signal a sharp escalation against dissenting media.
As Freilich fights to survive, the case has underscored what many see as a coordinated effort to suppress free press in Europe, raising questions about the balance between political power and the right to independent journalism.
