Spicy affair for the Social Democrats in Linz: Hobby DJ and third parliament speaker Peter Binder played at the official afterparty after the controversial boys’ club ball in a bar in the city center. The Socialist Youth is furious, state party chairman Michael Lindner will summon Binder tomorrow.
Up to 2,500 demonstrators marched through the capital Linz on Saturday evening and – heavily protected by police – faced visitors to the boys’ union ball. The traditional ball event is considered a networking meeting for right-wing extremists and is therefore very controversial.
Guests at the ball: Marlene Svazek, Manfred Haimbuchner
In any case, the political ‘who’s who’ of the state was guests at the ball, and visitors also came from Salzburg: in addition to the Upper Austrian FPÖ chairman Manfred Haimbuchner, the Salzburg FPÖ leader and deputy governor Marlene also danced Svazek there.
“Close colleague made music for freedom people”
The ‘Linz against Right’ alliance called for the demonstration, which featured posters with the crossed-out faces of FPÖ and ÖVP politicians. Michael Lindner, chairman of SPÖ Upper Austria, was also at the forefront of the demonstration. It will probably be all the more surprising to him that one of his closest colleagues made music for the fraternity.
The afterparty bar is owned by an SPÖ city councilor
According to the program, the official afterparty took place in the Pianino bar in the center of Linz, which in turn is owned by a Linz SPÖ city councilor. Why was it not noticed that the conclusion of the controversial ball took place there? “It just happened stupidly,” defends President of the Third State Parliament Peter Binder (SPÖ): former deputy mayor of Linz and EU parliament member Franz Obermayr (FPÖ) asked if he could come with a few people after the ball.
It eventually became the official final event. “We should have looked much closer and made it clear in advance who was really coming.” Officially, the restaurant was the location for a birthday party that evening, “the 50 to 60 people from the boys’ club ball then joined in,” says Binder.
Why didn’t he immediately stop making music because of his political preference? “We didn’t want to do that at the birthday party.”
Consequences still unclear
It is still unclear whether there will be political consequences for Binder and Harry Katzmayr, the owner of the Pianino and SPÖ municipal councilor. SPÖ state chairman Michael Lindner called both comrades to his office on Tuesday. Binder says ruefully: “I will be much more sensitive about this in the future. Of course, my anti-fascist stance cannot be shaken.”
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.
