Show Chats ÖVP Proximity – Lower Austria: Suspension of ORF Boss Ziegler Required

In a press release, the editors demand that a committee with external support be set up to clarify the allegations against Ziegler. In the meantime, an “impeccable person” should take over the management of the state studio.

According to internal chats and emails from the ORF state studio in Lower Austria, which became public on Friday night, Ziegler allegedly repeatedly campaigned massively for the TV presence of State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) and sent some kind of control in favor of the People’s Party. According to one claim, Ziegler subsequently wanted to include a quote from Mikl-Leitner in a “ZiB” cultural contribution. He would also have had companies close to the state portrayed in a positive light. In response to the allegations, Ziegler spoke of “vague and incomprehensible allegations”. For six years he headed the editorial office of the state studio in Lower Austria “to the best of my knowledge and belief”.

“Breach of Independence”
With the demand for Ziegler’s suspension, the ORF editors do not want to disadvantage him, but prevent further damage to the ORF and the credibility of the reporting of the state studios. “If editors have been instructed to structure articles in such a way that certain politicians appear, even if there is no journalistic need to do so, then that is a clear violation of the legal duty of independence.” according to the ORF editors. A close relationship between an editor-in-chief and a political party is “unacceptable” for public service broadcasters in their pursuit of independence.

Reference was made to Matthias Schrom, who only resigned as editor-in-chief of ORF TV News in November after talks with ex-FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache became public. The editorial chaired by Dieter Bornemann warned that those who bring editorial grievances to the public should not be punished for it.

Investigate yes, prejudice no
ORF Lower Austria’s spokesperson for the editorial office also spoke out in favor of an investigation over the weekend, but opposed a “general prejudice against the entire editorial staff of ORF Lower Austria”. The ORF responded on Friday by stating that the ORF had no internal complaints against Ziegler, but that the anonymous allegations were “obviously followed up”.

The reason already provoked political reactions on Friday evening. SPÖ and the Greens demanded Mikl-Leitner’s resignation. Like the FPÖ, they also demanded Ziegler’s suspension or resignation. The FPÖ also criticized the ORF law, which currently provides for a hearing for state governors before appointing an ORF state director. The NEOS demanded a commitment from the ÖVP, “whether they want to continue dragging the entire state and all institutions into the abyss – or are they ready for enlightenment and real reforms”.