The whole of Austria is proud of the Spanish Riding School – only behind the scenes of the cultural leader do the leftovers fly: apparently some groups want to settle “old scores” and just before the start of the call for applications for the future leadership, the top manager of the institution fell in the media, Sonja Klima.
The background seems clear: the contract of Sonja Klima and her commercial director expires in November, the advertisement for this position has just been published. Klima has been at the helm since March 1, 2019, replacing the “grand dame” Elisabeth Gürtler (who wanted to end her contract early).
Klima rejects the attacks on her person
Which apparently did not suit some in the scene: the advisory board of the riding school resigned at the time and ex-minister Bartenstein left the supervisory board. Since Sonja Klima wants to apply again, this is foiled with malicious gossip about her job. It would not have yielded the hoped-for sponsorship money, there was a lack of new ideas and economic management could also be improved.
All attacks that Sonja Klima rejects: “When I was appointed, I overcame two other candidates in the hearings. And I’ve launched a wealth of new initiatives. So that after the Covid period we can finally go on a European tour again. It leads from Germany via Denmark, Norway to Basel and Paris, yielding not only recognition but also an income of 620,000 euros. Until now, such performances were not possible because of Covid.” Prestige and image seem to have the highest priority at the Spanish Riding School.
Economically, this institution with 200 employees and a pre-Corona annual turnover of 13 million euros is at best a medium-sized company. Klima: “The Ministry of Agriculture has supported us very positively during the period of the performance ban with about eight million euros per year, we also did not have to fire anyone.” could be set up.
Privately, the “horse lover” owns a stud farm with 50 horses in Marchfeld, where she also confirms herself as an animal rights activist: “I know what a kilo of hay and other feed costs, do the critics know that too? I live with the horses every day.”
In the future, 90 percent should be earned by yourself
If the pandemic barriers are removed now, the Spanish Riding School would have to generate 90 percent itself again. In addition, there are important sponsorships. But what could play a role in the intrigue: the former chairman of the supervisory board, Johann Marihart, had a Lipizzaner trained for his daughter at the court riding school for years, and received riding lessons there himself for a long time. A circumstance that led to Marihart and the commercial boss being litigated, after which Marihart eventually had to resign his position as chairman of the supervisory board.
The public prosecutor has established that the presumption of innocence applies. Her opponents accuse Sonja Klima of not trying to cover up this incident (“Who needs the red climate there?”), The ex-wife of the then Chancellor Viktor Klima prefers to talk about the many strategies and new developments during the pandemic period : ” With the Boltzmann Institute, we have started the digitization of this cultural treasure, we have developed new concepts for Piber, but also more space for our Lipizzaners in warm Vienna and much more.”
Are you going to apply again? Klima: “I had to wait for the new tender. Yes, actually I want to continue!”
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.
