President convenes heads of government – EURACTIV.com
In view of a series of revelations about the corruption of former top politicians of the conservative ÖVP, including ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has called up leading government representatives individually for talks.
Kurz, who once dominated Austrian politics, resigned in December 2021. Entangled in scandals, allegations of corruption and misuse of state funds. Nun Karl Nehammer currently holds the office of Chancellor.
After a high-ranking whistleblower brought to light alleged ÖVP offenses from Kurz’s time, the Austrian President asked the conservative Prime Minister Nehammer (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler from the Greens for an interview.
According to the Office of the President, these talks were conducted separately. As usual, the content of the discussions was confidential.
Van der Bellen had already announced in advance that he wanted to lead the ÖVP talks in view of the corruption debate that had flared up again.
After the high-ranking whistleblower, former Secretary of State for Finance Thomas Schmid, is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee on November 2, the case continues to cause unrest in the Austrian political system.
The Ethics Council of the ÖVP will deal with the issue. The ÖVP would have to “take the initiative” in the current situation, it “could not always remain the driven party,” said Franz Fischler, former EU Commissioner, on Monday (October 24). O1.
It has been unclear since Monday whether the President intervened out of concern for the stability of the government.