Scandal in Pölla: Mayor Kröpfl convicts for abuse of office!

Scandal in Pölla: Mayor Kröpfl convicts for abuse of office!

On July 1, 2025, the Vienna Higher Regional Court decided that the municipality of Pölla in the Zwettl district is liable for damage caused. This official liability judgment is now final. The market town is sentenced to pay for lawyers and court costs of a total of 3,000 euros. The reason for this judgment is the misconduct of the ÖVP mayor Günther Kröpfl, who opposed applicable law in a construction project.

according to [ots] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250701_ots0173/olg-wien-bestaetaTe-Altungen- against-community-poella), Kröpfl sat over an existing building permit. A damaged citizen, Gerhard M., received permits for three construction projects in 2020. When he built a stone wall in August 2023 and then received a termination notice, he filed a complaint against the mayor and informed the authorities about the disregard of the building law by Kröpfl.

abuse of office and consequences

The investigation showed that Kröpfl, together with an expert, visited M.'s property without informing him. The expert found that there was no valid approval notice for the stone wall built. The regional court of Krems saw this an abuse of office and decided on damaging intent. Mayor Kröpfl has already been sentenced to one year in a separate procedure, whereby this judgment is not yet legally binding, as [today] (https://www.heute.at/s/bau-affaere-uräut- against-buermeister-rechtig-120113).

The FPÖ Pölla, represented by club spokesman Franz Wögenstein, calls for the resignation of Kröpfl due to the damage caused by the municipality. This requirement was also made by NABG. Alois Kainz, the chairman of the Zwettl district. Despite the massive criticism and the question of trust in the local council, which survived Kröpfl with unanimous trust, he rejected a resignation and is in appeal against the judgment.

legal framework conditions

The situation raises fundamental questions about abuse of office. According to the [Kommunal] (https://kommunal.at/wo-lieben-die-benzen-zum-power abuse), there may be an abuse of office if an official, in this case the mayor, deliberately abuses proper powers, which is done in the context of the sovereign administration. The punishments for abuse of office range from six months to ten years, depending on the severity of the crime.

politicians and officials are not active in the legal space. It is crucial to know and avoid liability risks. This judgment can serve as a signal warning for other mayors to adhere to the legal requirements.