In February, ÖVP club president August Wöginger was suspected of corruption: the Innviertler is alleged to have intervened in filling the board position for the tax office in Braunau with the then chief of the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid. He now confirms the allegations.
The reason concerns the now ÖVP club chairman Wöginger. According to an extradition request from the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA), as a member of parliament, he would have intervened with Schmid as former chief of cabinet of the Ministry of Finance for the appointment of an Upper Austrian ÖVP mayor to the board of the tax authorities.
“Used for Wöginger’s concerns”
According to the APA, Wöginger “acted very specifically” for the mayor to become a board member of the tax authorities, Schmid said according to the interrogation protocol. “I supported this goal for Wöginger because it was such an important matter for him and because a good relationship with Wöginger was important to me,” said Schmid. He was not concerned with the man’s professional qualifications or suitability for this board position.
Staff wish Wögingers
The then ÖVP Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling was also briefed on the personnel issue, Schmid said. “I’m sure I told him that Wöginger had a request for a position on the board of a tax office in Upper Austria, that I had already arranged it and that it was a ÖVP mayor and an ÖAAB member.” it was “simply noticed”.
“Not influenced”
For Wöginger himself, Schmid’s statements bring no new insight, as he said in a statement to the APA. Citizens’ concerns from the consultation days were always forwarded. “Of course I was happy that someone from my region was chosen for the position.” He had “always regarded the mayor as a qualified and suitable candidate for this position”. But he had no influence whatsoever, “I don’t know the other applicants”.
Source: Krone
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