Kurz vs. Schmid – A duel with different weapons

Sebastian Kurz and Thomas Schmid: Once allies on the way to power, now bitter adversaries. And probably on the way to court. It is a duel with different weapons. Schmid only talks to the authorities, Kurz plays offensively with the audience. As if he had yet to win the electorate. It’s about convincing the judiciary. But which strategy is the best?

Schmid wants to be a crown witness
Schmid wants to be a star witness in the turquoise corruption saga – and caused a stir in the committee with his all-round dismissal. “A sensible strategy,” says lawyer Leo Kregcjk. “Politicians are hypocrites. Every statement is compared with that from the interrogation.” Not only can credibility suffer, but false statements can also flourish. Lawyer Johannes Zink speaks of an “advertising culture”. So Schmid just read (that one sentence). “That’s great,” says criminal law expert Arthur Machac. “When customers start talking, often only pottery comes out.”

In short “still as a politician”
It is also not in the interest of the detectives for a potential key witness to talk in public, says Kregcjk. In addition, the interrogations at the WKStA have not yet been completed. “Another reason not to say anything to the committee,” the lawyers say. Zink: “And from a purely legal point of view, Schmid’s situation has not changed because of his silence. He just has to cooperate with the public prosecutor.”

Machac sums it up in a nutshell: “Parliament doesn’t give a damn about the key witness.” Kurz, on the other hand, “still litigates like a politician,” says Kregcjk. After the publication of Schmid’s statements “he had to become insulting”. Reported to the media, presented a tape recording. “Schmid only testified about this at the WKStA. The documents will be public anyway.”

The judiciary basically believes leniency witnesses
Offensive action has already led to success, says Johannes Zink. But in general there is little experience with key witnesses in Austria. “But actually they have the truth on their side. Justice believes them.” In the current case, in addition to key witnesses (Beinschab already has the status), chats are also used as a substrate. Zink: “The combination did not yet exist. She now faces aggressive defense. It’s going to be exciting to watch.”