“Serious misconduct” – ÖVP ethics council recommends expulsion from Schmid’s party

Schmid had also heavily accused several former and current ÖVP officials before the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA). His party membership is currently suspended. Regarding Schmid’s statements to the investigators, the Ethics Board – which met on Wednesday – stated: “Such a procedure should apply now and in the future to all comparable cases of proven serious misconduct.” “disrespect therein” are “completely inappropriate and should be rejected” and are also contrary to the code of conduct, says the Ethics Council.

However, these are non-public statements made publicly without regard to data protection and privacy. “They have mainly become public without taking into account all the associated circumstances and taken out of context,” it was stressed.

Concerned about the political climate
However, the committee also took note of Schmid’s apology and now expects “that such a tone will not only be avoided in the future, but that a tone of respect will also be used in public officials’ private communications.” The Ethics Council called on “everyone to conduct as factual and differentiated political discourse as possible and to respect the human right to the presumption of innocence in the statements”. Overall, the panel is “concerned” about the current political climate. The loss of trust in politics in general could “lead to a dangerous process of democratic erosion that fosters extremism, radicalism and fatal polarization given the many critical challenges.”