Strache Trial – Beautiful Best Friends and the Roundabout

The prominent defendants find the allegations of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office WKStA almost an insult. Because it’s about deep, real, real friendship – not bribery and venality. What prosecutor Silvia Thaller of course sees differently: “Partisan politics office patronage”, she says, or “Postenschacher”. And the “pretty best friends” only kept together “the thirst for recognition and prestige in this community of ease borne by vanity.”

This culminated in the fact that Siegfried Stieglitz, real estate giant in Upper Austria, only got a commissionership at Asfinag because he donated money to the association “Austria in Motion” affiliated with FP. A total of 20,000 euros, but only 10,000 are criminally relevant as they fell during Strache’s tenure as vice chancellor. According to Stieglitz, the donation was a “Mickey Mouse sum”.

Invitation to Dubai
An invitation to “Kings & Queens”, a varied program with food, and for Dubai and his wife would also be there – although Strache did not respond at all. But there are also chats here – surfaced after the well-known Ibiza video including the Commission of Inquiry – that are meant to show how far along the schedule was. Will the Strache baby come with you or will he stay at home with grandma? “This is already considered an advance directive and is punishable by law. I give so you give – it’s called corruption when a public servant is involved.”

For Stieglitz attorney Andreas Pollak, the criminal charge is a “chain of assumptions”. And he refers to the technical experience that his client brought with him as a supervisory director of a road construction company. Stieglitz had “roundabout competence”. For Strache’s attorney Johann Pauer, the question of friendship is not one: “You were already before Strache was appointed vice-chancellor.” In addition, Strache would not have had any authority for appointments to the supervisory board, especially at the Ministry of Transport. Norbert Hofer, former minister and presidential candidate (FP), will be present as a witness on Friday.

Both suspects plead innocent. Stieglitz goes on to say that Strache even advised against donating, “because donors often have problems like I have now.” The sequel will follow on Wednesday with Strache’s interrogation.