Although “things happened that need to be clarified,” said Nehammer in the OÖN (Wednesday edition). “Above all, however, there is a governor who clearly says that the allegations made by an anonymous witness are not true. I have no reason to doubt this clarification by Governor Wallner.” When asked whether Wallner would run again as the top candidate in the upcoming state elections in 2024, the chancellor said: “I don’t know what speaks against it.” Wallner himself announced last December – before the inconsistencies surrounding the Vorarlberger Wirtschaftsbund became known – that he would start racing again in 2024.
On the one hand, the Vorarlberger Wirtschaftsbund has attracted public interest in the past few weeks due to a tax audit. The ÖVP sub-organization is said to be threatened with an additional tax payment of 1.3 million euros. On the other hand, unflattering content such as sloppy bookkeeping became known through files from the ÖVP investigative committee – if they are true. More money is said to have flowed from the Economic Association to the ÖVP than communicated by the state party. Among other things, entrepreneurs are said to have been put under pressure to advertise in the Wirtschaftsbund newspaper “Vorarlberger Wirtschaft”. An anonymous witness testified that Wallner had also solicited advertisements in exchange for political concessions, which Wallner denies. The opposition is unanimously demanding the resignation of the state governor, and a corresponding motion of no confidence will be put to the vote in the state parliament on May 11.
Source: Nachrichten
