Strache spy? – What fitness guru did for his own ORF show

The ORF and its editors – enemy number one for the FPÖ. This finding in itself is nothing new. But the new conversations of former FPÖ vice-chancellor Strache, which were handed over to the U-Commission, clearly document the extent of the frustration of the then governing parties with the ORF – and especially how the Blues wanted to change colour.

A list of names inside and outside the ORF identified as blue representatives of the FPÖ seats are traded in the chats as candidates for top positions. The WhatsApp messages also reveal embarrassing compliments from some former members of the ORF management team. Would you like some examples?

“Unfortunately, the editors of Ö3 are very left-wing,” jokes Franz Xaver Maurer, board member of ORF. “ORF reform now!!!!! The ZiB2 was just crazy,” Strache types in the blue chat group. According to the blue ideas, the popular ORF correspondent Christian Wehrschütz should be given more weight on the ORF. Strache brings him in as Paul Lendvai’s successor for the European studio or as ORF country director in Linz or Salzburg.

However, “ZiB 2” presenter Martin Thür has fallen out of favor: “Thür is destroying us on Twitter. We finally have to sit at the table,” Harald Vilimsky wrote in the chat group in February 2019.

Strache’s fitness coach becomes the country’s pre-gymnast
The cabaret delicacy in the chats is the career of Strache’s fitness coach Philipp Jelinek. During Strache’s reign, he became the country’s new leading gymnast with “Fit with Philipp”. The career jump isn’t enough for Strache’s fitness guru. He wants to become a presenter of ‘Welcome Austria’. In return, as the recently leaked chats suggest, he repeatedly spies on ORF internals for Strache.

At the end of March 2018, he wrote to Strache: “You are letting yourself be scammed. You’re just trying to get people into the top positions and overlook the fact that Black is cleaning things up in the lower area and putting their Indians in position.”

At the end of July 2018, fitness coach Philipp is very happy, he reports to Strache: “I have received my permanent ORF contract – they have also made financial improvements. (…) I would like to thank you for your trust and support!!!”

Gabalier on Ö3
According to the chats, it was also a matter of the heart for Strache that pop singer Andreas Gabalier was played on Ö3 again.

The chat history of former ORF manager Thomas Prantner is a good example of ingratitude. After his failed application for ORF general, he left ORF in 2022. For years he was responsible for the ORF’s online reporting.

He sends messages to Strache with the following journalistically critical messages: “Dear HC, (…) You can rely on me.” Or: “I am the only one in the entire ORF who is in favor of fair treatment of the FPÖ on orf.at has done the work.”