Public opinion poller in Austria under suspicion: In the corruption scandal around Kurz, there is apparently the first arrest – politics
In Austria, embellished surveys are said to have been published in the spirit of the ex-chancellor. According to media reports, a demoscopy prior to raids deleted data.
In the affair of the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who has resigned due to allegations of corruption, there is apparently an arrest. The report in the Austrian newspapers “The standard” and “The press” consistent. Accordingly, it is the pollster Sabine B.
She is said to have erased the hard drive of her computer shortly before the house searches last week on suspicion of corruption. The reason for arrest is probably a risk of blackout, writes “Der Standard”. The judiciary wants to investigate the death.
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As “Die Presse” further reports, it is suspected that the house search could have been betrayed. The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) did not want to comment on the current developments in the cause at the request of the newspaper. The accused’s lawyer was also not available for the time being.
Kurz is under increasing pressure in the affair. Specifically, he is accused of infidelity and aiding and abetting bribery. The affair had triggered a government crisis in Austria. Because of the allegations, the coalition of the ÖVP with the Greens would have burst. Kurz finally resigned at the weekend.
The investigation is based mainly on chats in which the pollster was also involved. In the past week, several house searches took place in the Federal Chancellery, the Ministry of Finance and the ÖVP party headquarters. It is investigated whether embellished surveys have been circulated since 2016 in order to put Kurz in a good light.
There is a suspicion that this share was paid for by the Austrian Ministry of Finance and distributed by the media group “Austria” for a lot of money. The circle of suspects in the so-called “advertisement affair” is large. Among other things, it is determined against Kurz’s close confidante, ex-family minister Sophie Karmasin, and the former head of cabinet in the finance ministry, Thomas Schmid. The accused deny all allegations.
The new Federal Chancellor of Austria is the former Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP). This did not say a word about the investigation against Kurz in its first statement on Tuesday, nor did it announce any plans to fight corruption in the country more intensively.
The opposition Social Democrats criticized Schallenberg and called for a clear cut with the conservative power apparatus of his predecessor. Schallenberg should part with all of Kurz’s employees who are suspected of corruption, said SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner in the National Council.
So far it seems that the “System Kurz” continues to rule. “He who follows blindly cannot lead,” said the Social Democrat to Schallenberg’s address. The known chats of the ex-chancellor show a moral picture of unscrupulousness and abuse of power. The right-wing FPÖ critic Schallenberg is also sharp. (lem)