ÖVP club director Wöginger charged with abuse of office-scandal draws circles!

ÖVP club director Wöginger charged with abuse of office-scandal draws circles!

Linz, Österreich - The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKSTA) today brought an indictment against the ÖVP club director August Wöginger at the Linz Regional Court. Wöginger is accused of intervening in 2017 as a member of the National Council in order to appoint a Upper Austrian ÖVP mayor to the board of the tax office for Braunau, Ried and Schärding. With him, two officials from the Ministry of Finance are charged with him, which makes the extent of the allegations clear. This charges are in the context of the comprehensive investigation into the casinos Austria, which were triggered by the so-called Ibiza scandal, as the Krone reports.

Wöginger's intervention is said to have been carried out by the former chief of cabinet of the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid. Chats between Schmid and Wöginger show how Schmid Wöginger praises for his support and underpin the self -interests of those involved. Schmid is led as a key witness and is said to have influenced one of the co -accused civil servants. Wöginger himself asserts his innocence and emphasizes that he only behaved correctly. Among other things, the explosive chats show that the mayor Wöginger asked for support and Schmid wrote in one of these news: "We did it (...) The mayor owes you something!" Orf adds that a former employee of the finance ministry has made stressful statements that further underpin.

background of the indictment

The allegations against Wöginger throw a light on the far -reaching problems of political corruption in Austria and beyond. Corruption is often understood as an abuse of public power for private profit and has negative effects in democracies, as well as in illiberal systems. As the BPB analyzes corruption to distort political competition and damages trust in public administration. The phenomenon is a universal problem that can be observed in politics and in administration.

The indictment against Wöginger is another step in a long process in which society and politics in Austria are challenged to take action against grievances and illegal practices. Anti -corruption measures are often susceptible to political battles and have to be constantly redesigned to bring about effective change. The current developments could therefore not only have far -reaching consequences for Wöginger, but also for the ÖVP and the political system in Austria.