The corruption investigation commission ÖVP resumed its work on Tuesday after the summer holidays. The focus was on dependence on Russian gas. There was lighting.
October 3, 2018: Opening of “Imperial Collections” at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Talks about phasing out sanctions. Putin of gas as key to cooperation. Also present are real estate juggler René Benko, and Kurz supporter and investor Siegfried Wolf, who has an affinity with Russia. And OMV boss Rainer Seele. Reliance on Russian gas is sealed until 2040.
The shadows of the past
The episode was the subject of Tuesday’s U-committee. Information person: Gerhard Roiss, former OMV board member, predecessor of Seele. It was about the political responsibility for this dependence, which could not have been more current and threatening. NEOS, Groenen and SPÖ wanted it that way.
The ÖVP questioned the complex. It has nothing to do with the subject of the investigation, says party chairman Andreas Hanger. There are permanent delegations with politicians. At all parties. There were point of order debates, standings.
Seele did not show up to the committee on Tuesday. Roiss was talkative, sometimes emotional. Green faction leader Nina Tomaselli and her pink counterpart, Stephanie Krisper, discussed the developments and networks with him: In September 2014, Roiss was informed by the state holding company ÖIAG (today BAG, owns 31.5 percent for the Republic of OMV) that his contract will not be extended.
Change of strategy: “It was in the wrong direction”
Roiss, who did not want a Russian hug and focused on Norway, reported on two meetings with ÖIAG boss Wolf. This meant that Roiss’ course was wrong. He had to go. “It wasn’t my world anymore. I thought the strategy change was wrong. Just like other countries that have taken a different path and are not so dependent today. Poland for example.” Also, he would never have signed a “gag contract” with Gazprom until 2040, as Seele did.
Finance Minister hired by Gazprom
The German soul had close contacts with Russia even before his OMV contract. Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling (ÖVP), who was also responsible for ÖIAG and thus for OMV until the end of 2017, switched to Gazprom’s North Stream 2 as an advisor shortly after his departure from politics. ideas for projects.
Cynical detail: According to the Interfax agency, Rainer Seele, a friend of the Russians and their gas, once announced that he was “praying on his knees for a cold winter”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
