Gerald Fleischmann, who was surprisingly announced the day before, also caused a frown within the ÖVP on Thursday. Julia Loeschnig, the ÖVP state manager of Carinthia, was “very surprised”, other state parties would not comment on the staff. Sharp criticism came from the green coalition partner.
“The dubious image this creates is devastating,” Ö1 said in a written statement from the green coalition partner in the federal government. The ÖVP itself must be responsible for this.
Carinthia: “The federal party will know what it is doing”
Carinthian ÖVP director Loeschnig told the APA she was “very surprised” when she learned about Fleischmann’s return as head of media work for the federal ÖVP. “This is a decision of the federal government that has no bearing on our work in the country. The federal party will know what it is doing.” Federal party personnel decisions are not coordinated with the state organisations, just as the Carinthian ÖVP does not ask the federal government if anyone is hired.
In the sights of the WKStA
Salzburg’s ÖVP boss, Governor Wilfried Haslauer, said on request that Salzburg did not want to participate in a discussion when it came to hiring an employee. It is not a political office. If there are criminal charges against an individual, they should be investigated until it becomes clear whether something is wrong. The Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) is investigating Fleischmann in the ÖVP inquiry affair.
FPÖ: “Message back under control”
For the SPÖ faction leader in the ÖVP’s investigative committee, Jan Krainer, Fleischmann was never really gone anyway, but last pulled the strings of the ÖVP club – “now he’s pulling the strings again in party headquarters”. Malice came from Liberal MP Susanne Fürst: it is clear that the ÖVP has run out of people who are not being investigated. Fleischmann should apparently “bring the battered communication into shape”. This means that “the message is back under control”.
Pendant: “Savvy Communicator”
In contrast, the Turquoise faction chairman Andreas Hanger praised Fleischmann as an “experienced communicator”. As for the investigations of the WKStA, he referred to the presumption of innocence. The resulting look is a “matter of evaluation”. In any case, Fleischmann will “do professional work in communication,” Hanger said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
