Christian Hafenecker has come under enormous pressure: as the public prosecutor has confirmed, the FPÖ MP is being investigated for false corona certificates. What started the case was an accidental find on the mobile phone of former FPÖ MP Hans-Jörg Jenewein.
The FPÖ heard about the allegations for the first time on Tuesday, Hafenecker himself has not yet answered the relevant questions, the ‘Presse’ reported on Tuesday. According to the report, data falsification (penalty range: up to a year in prison) is under investigation because Hafenecker, who is considered a vaccine refuser, allegedly seduced a party colleague to get the fake certificates. The presumption of innocence applies, other people are also affected.
Corresponding information – along with several other forged certificates – was found on the mobile phone of former FPÖ MP Hans-Jörg Jenewein.
Waiver of parliamentary immunity is not necessary
The Vienna Public Prosecution Service is said to have already sent a project report to the Vienna Public Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Justice. In it she states that Hafenecker’s parliamentary immunity is not affected by the investigation. The alleged data falsification has nothing to do with his work as a member of the National Council, so waiver of immunity is not necessary and can be investigated. The Department of Justice should share this legal view. An extradition from Parliament is only necessary if the alleged act is related to a professional activity. That is not the case in this case.
However, the constitution provides that the prosecutor’s office must obtain a ruling from the National Council on the existence of such a link if the Member of Parliament concerned or one third of the members of the Immunity Committee so request. In that case, the investigation should be interrupted immediately.
Hafenecker wants to investigate allegations
Hafenecker himself criticized the fact that “undercover investigations are launched against MPs without having to discuss them in the immunity committee”. Hafenecker left open whether he would request the Immunity Committee to address the case. He wants to check, but he doesn’t know the allegations yet, because he hasn’t been informed that he is the suspect, and he doesn’t have access to the files. According to his information, the allegations revolve around a football match on May 23 in Budapest – he was also at this match, “with a valid PCR test”. Apparently one of his employees was searched in this regard.
“This is another ÖVP attempt at intimidation”
The FPÖ faction leader in the ÖVP’s corruption investigation committee found a political background: on Wednesday, ex-ÖVP leader Sebastian Kurz must again answer the committee’s questions – “a villain, who thinks badly about it”, Hafenecker made a connection. “This is another attempt by the ÖVP at intimidation taking place here,” Hafenecker suspected. “Of course we came too close to the ÖVP to take such measures.”
Hafenecker was part of a corona cluster in the Ibiza U-committee. The day after the last committee meeting in July 2021, he received a positive gargle test and several MPs and speakers from other parties became ill. At the time, the ÖVP accused him of informing other parties too late.
Source: Krone
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