根据10个非政府组织（NGO）联盟周二发布的一份评估政府和议会维护自由民主努力的报告，奥地利的民主指数已连续第四年下降。
Austria’s Democracy Index has declined for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report presented Tuesday by a coalition of 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assessing the government and parliament’s efforts to uphold liberal democracy.
该指数降至54.1%，比去年下降一个百分点，接近2019年以来的最低水平，当时为53.8%。民主状况评估每年发布一次。
The index fell to 54.1%, down one percentage point from last year and approaching its lowest level since 2019, when it stood at 53.8%. The assessment of democratic conditions is published annually.
该指数围绕七大支柱构建：主权者、政党、立法机关、行政机关、司法机关、媒体和公民社会，每个支柱包含若干章节。
The index is structured around seven pillars: Sovereign, Political Parties, Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, Media and Civil Society, each comprising several chapters.
司法类别较上一年大幅下降四个百分点，归因于长期职位短缺、惩罚和矫正系统条件恶劣，以及联邦公共检察官办公室执行不力或未执行。
The sharp decline of four percentage points in the Judiciary category compared to the previous year is attributed to a shortage of permanent positions, poor conditions in the penal and correctional systems, and the inadequate or lack of implementation by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.
在总共16个章节中，有8个章节出现恶化。除司法领域外，这一趋势还体现在主权者类别中——具体涉及基本权利总体情况，报告引用了针对14岁以下女童在校禁戴头巾和监狱过度拥挤作为原因，以及数字基本权利。
Deterioration was observed in eight of a total of 16 chapters. In addition to the judiciary, this trend is evident in the Sovereign category—specifically regarding fundamental rights in general, with a headscarf ban for girls under 14 in schools and prison overcrowding cited as reasons, and digital fundamental rights.
媒体类别持续多年的下降趋势也在继续。指数指出，缺乏针对针对公众参与的策略性诉讼（SLAPP）的法律、政治势力影响公共广播机构ORF的机会，以及媒体行业面临的经济压力，是导致恶化的原因。
The downward trend in the Media category, which has persisted for years, also continued. The index cites the lack of a law against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), opportunities for political influence over the public broadcaster ORF, and economic pressure in the media sector as reasons for the deterioration.
民主指数的组织者还呼吁议会提高透明度，特别是关于议员收入和财务利益方面。
The organizers of the Democracy Index also called for greater transparency in parliament, particularly regarding the income and financial interests of its members.
“一个有韧性的民主需要政治家透明披露他们代表谁的利益以及他们如何投票，”非政府组织“Meine Abgeordneten”（我的议员）的Marion Breitschopf在该研究中说。
“A resilient democracy needs politicians who transparently disclose whose interests they represent and how they vote,” said Marion Breitschopf of the NGO Meine Abgeordneten (My Representatives) in the study.