On Tuesday, the SPÖ called on Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) to convince the ex-ÖVP boss to give up the post. Sharp criticism also came from NEOS. On Tuesday, Tyrol’s governor Günther Platter (ÖVP) said hesitantly: This topic should be “discussed with the federal government in Vienna”.
SPÖ: “It’s about Austria’s reputation”
SPÖ federal director Christian Deutsch asked Nehammer at a press conference to “speak plainly” in order to convince him “of renouncing the supervisory board post”. It’s about “Austria’s reputation,” he said. National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), in turn, had already defended Schüssel’s intention to continue working for the company at the weekend. It is a London-listed company and not a state-owned company. Bowl’s former spokeswoman had previously brought up exactly this argument.
“Irresponsible, cynical, shameful”
Deutsch also pointed out that Vagit Alekperov is the founder, largest shareholder and CEO of Lukoil – and is considered a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The fact that Schuessel continues to work for Alekperov and collects 100,000 euros for his work at Lukoil is irresponsible, cynical and shameful.”
The NEOS emphasized on Tuesday that due to his attitude towards Lukoil, Schüssel was intolerable as President of the Austrian Society for Foreign Policy and the United Nations. “In view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, it is contradictory enough that a former Austrian statesman continues to work for a Russian energy company while the Republic of Austria fully supports the EU sanctions on Putin’s regime,” said NEOS foreign policy spokesman Helmut Brandstätter in a statement to the APA. The People’s Party must “decide with a bowl” how the ÖVP’s understanding of decency and morals will work out.
Under the given circumstances, Schüssel was also intolerable as President of the Austrian Society for Foreign Policy and the United Nations (ÖGAVN) – an association supported by the Federal Chancellery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, according to Brandstätter. “Someone who helps the Russian regime, even if only indirectly, to stay in power is intolerable in an association that is supported by the highest Austrian offices. I expect from the Federal Chancellor as well as from the Foreign and Finance Ministers that they take immediate action: Austria’s reputation and trust in us is at stake.”
Tyrol’s governor Platter remained reserved in the debate on Tuesday. However, at a press conference at which Tyrol’s solidarity with Ukraine was expressed, the governor emphasized that he found it “remarkable” that the honorary consul for Russia in Tyrol, the chairman of the board of directors of the Tiroler Sparkasse Hans Unterdorfer, resigned after eight years out of solidarity has covered. He, Platter, recently dealt with “other issues”, such as the “security situation in Tyrol” and the coordination of refugee accommodation with the federal government. “Everything else has to be discussed in Vienna,” affirmed the head of state in relation to Schüssel. Platter was once Minister of Defense in the Federal Government of Bowl II.
Source: Nachrichten
