Vorarlberg Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) on Wednesday again dismissed the allegations in the advertising affair in the ÖVP’s corruption investigation committee. In his opening statement, Wallner said he never asked for anything in return for conducting an official business: “That doesn’t suit my style and my way of carrying out my duties.”
Wallner explained that he has spoken out several times about the cause in which there was a need for clarification on three levels. On the one hand, there are still unanswered legal questions about fiscal and financial control, on the other, substantive questions need to be clarified for the future and, thirdly, moral questions need to be answered.
In any case, he always exercised his political functions with a sense of a ‘high moral standard’. Wallner also referred to the 2016 to 2021 audit of “all business processes” of the ÖVP sub-organization by a tax consultancy. The internal control system should also be reviewed and concrete recommendations for the future should be derived. A report with the results is expected in the coming weeks, according to the governor.
Wallner: Investigations are based on “anonymous accusation”
Wallner reiterated that the Public Prosecution Service’s (WKStA) investigations against him were based on newspaper reports of an “anonymous accusation”. He will refute this in the investigation ‘in no uncertain terms’. Wallner also “clarified” that he does not hold any position in the business association and has no operational inspection or intervention rights.
The beginning of Wallner’s interrogation was – like the morning – dominated by discussions about the rules of procedure. What was new was that before the judge in the first instance could ask the first question, a report had already been received from ÖVP faction leader Andreas Hanger about the regulations. He stated again that the advertising scandal in Vorarlberg cannot be the subject of a federal-level commission of inquiry. After all, only the implementation of the federal government is considered.
Precisely this question also revolved around the numerous discussions about the rules of procedure when questioning an employee of the large corporate audit department in finance in the morning, who is in charge of the tax audit of the Vorarlberg Economic Association.
29 Objections to Regulations
The ÖVP raised a total of 29 points of order before an opposition MP had asked. There were also three longer “stands”. Interim Judge Christa Edwards partially supported the argument, denying any connection with the subject of the investigation and the period during which questions about the economic association and its administrative or tax law were involved.
Source: Krone
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