European Commission representative Martin Selmayr, who was criticized for his ‘blood money’ claim, does not want to give up his job in Austria. “As you can see, I am doing my job, and I will always continue to do so until I retire,” Selmayr said in Vienna on Wednesday. He declined to comment on his statement: “Everything has been said on this matter.”
Last week, Selmayr criticized Austria’s billions in payments for Russian gas, describing it as “blood money” over Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine that the country was financing. After the FPÖ Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) called for Selmayr to be recalled, he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. In an unusual move, the European Commission subsequently publicly distanced itself from its representative in Vienna.
Unusually foam protected
On Wednesday, at an event at the House of the European Union in Vienna, he said: “As long as the European Commission wants me to be in Vienna, I will be in Vienna.” During a panel discussion about Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech He had previously refrained from using sharp wording, for which he has become infamous since his time as an assistant to former EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.
Even before his “blood money” comment, Selmayr had spoken out with statements that were interpreted as critical by the Austrian government. For example, the qualified European lawyer spoke out in the summer debate started by Nehammer on anchoring cash in the constitution and pointed out that this was not necessary because euro cash is anchored in EU contract law.
FPÖ continues to demand resignation
Although he received support from various parties for his criticism of gas, the FPÖ does not let go: it continues to call for his resignation.
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.
