On the day of the second interrogation of Johanna Mikl-Leitner in the ÖVP Corruption Commission of Inquiry in Vienna, the events in St. Pölten came to a head. Not only, but also companies close to the state that advertised in party media were reported anonymously by the State Audit Service parallel to the investigation in question. With the SPÖ, the latter party also announced the equity agreement of the People’s Party. This in turn retaliates by sending a fact sheet on SPÖ constructions to the Federal Court of Auditors for circumvention.
Bang effect around the Causa advertisement in the country: As is known, the National Investigation Department has been investigating various state-related companies for several weeks at the request of the public prosecutor’s office. In particular, a complaint has been lodged against EVN, the State Health Service and Hypo Niederösterreich. But anonymous, therefore the allegations should be treated with caution.
But the allegations weigh heavily: the companies would have advertised at a multiple of the market value in the ÖVP-related media and thus indirectly financed the state party with taxpayers’ money.
Explosive: In addition to Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and party manager Bernhard Ebner – both of whom had to testify in the parliamentary subcommittee – charges were also filed against their press spokesperson and two media managers. According to a letter from the Vienna public prosecutor’s office circulating on the internet, they are not currently on the list of suspects. Meanwhile, there are more and more rumors that the Court of Audit could soon become the target of the judicial authorities because of the ‘tame control’.
ÖVP demands fairness, now even messes with SPÖ
As the “Krone” revealed, similar constructions were also known in the vicinity of the SPÖ. However, when the audit request was submitted to the State Audit Service, the comrades then decided, together with the FPÖ, NEOS and the Greens, to “drop their pants”. Before the audit body commented on other parties, the ÖVP in turn contacted the Federal Court of Auditors.
Because after the SPÖ, the last of the parties, broke off negotiations on Wednesday about a possible fairness agreement in the election campaign, the ÖVP counterattacked and gave a statement of facts about bypass constructions, which are said to be common in the SPÖ, to the Court of Auditors.
The current special investigation is mainly concerned with whether illegal party financing has taken place via bypass constructions. The ÖVP has so far firmly rejected corresponding allegations from government partners and opposition parties, pointing to a decision by the Independent Party Transparency Senate that there was no wrongdoing.
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.
