Where is the dividing line for a politician between private life and public interest? This question is hotly debated in the Lena Schilling case. Political expert Thomas Hofer explains the difficult points.
“Krone”: Where should the dividing line be drawn between the politician and the private individual?
Thomas Hofer: We are dealing with a gray area. But privacy ends where the politician’s behavior has an impact on his political work.
Is there an example of this from the past?
During the 2006 election campaign, Wolfgang Schüssel said there was no shortage of nurses. It was then revealed by a journalist that the Schüssel family had hired an illegal healthcare provider from abroad. This publication was an invasion of the most private sphere, but since the political statement was refuted, the publication was legitimate.
FPÖ top candidate Harald Vilimsky is a suspect in two criminal cases. ÖVP top candidate Reinhold Lopatka was also considered a power-conscious schemer for years. This is not discussed in the election campaign, isn’t that unfair?
There is a disproportionality and gender specificity between men and women when it comes to weighing accusations. Even accusations or investigations do not always lead to dismissal. There’s definitely a lot of catching up to do here. There are also still templates when it comes to gender issues.
Many of the accusations against Schilling are anonymous, so are they credible?
That is why it is a sensitive story, because some accusations are anonymous. This will certainly be seen as a problem by the public, even if it is documented by the media. And Lena Schilling is not allowed to say anything about certain accusations because of the signed ceasefire. That doesn’t make it any easier for Schilling. So far, only two affected people have dared to go public. This is what the reliability of the standard stands for: it has been carefully and conscientiously researched.
Who benefits from this campaign? Will many continue to turn away from politics?
The overall damage to the entire system increases with this chapter. The Greens debate almost like a right-wing party: they close ranks and argue in a very harsh tone to limit the damage. If the story doesn’t get new feed every day, it might be possible to contain it. In some cases there may also be a solidarity effect. We know that from the FPÖ.
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.
