Wallner announced that he was “completely healthy and in good physical condition” for the autumn work. After medical tests, he received the green light from his doctors to fully resume his work. He doesn’t see a risk of relapse – Wallner had suffered from a state of exhaustion and severe symptoms of overuse.
Vorarlberg’s head of government withdrew on June 22 after turbulent months to recover. Among other things, a financial audit by the Vorarlberger Wirtschaftsbund revealed inconsistencies, and allegations of corruption against Wallner – in the form of an affidavit available to the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” – were also made. Since then, the business and corruption prosecutor’s office has been investigating Wallner. However, the governor is still “only” a suspect, not an accused.
“That built me up”
Wallner said he never had any doubts about his return – even if he followed the speculation in the media about it. “I had the inner drive to get well again quickly,” Wallner stated. In addition, he spent a lot of time with his family and, on the doctor’s recommendation, went out into nature “almost every day in wind and weather”. Courage and confidence also gave him many get well wishes, which he received in the form of text messages and letters. “That built me up,” said Wallner.
Even during his break, he always kept in touch with his government team through state governor Barbara Schöbi-Fink (ÖVP), albeit greatly reduced “and limited to the most important things”. He was involved in important decisions. It was a happy coincidence that his break fell in the less hectic summer months, said the governor.
The start of school in the West on Monday is a good time to get back to work in good health. “We will start the autumn work on Monday,” says Wallner. After the first organizational steps, “major challenges in terms of content” awaited, the head of government named topics such as inflation, the energy crisis, climate protection, but also the care situation. “Quick decisions will be needed,” Wallner said with conviction. The current situation requires the full commitment of everyone involved to ensure stable conditions and to keep the burden on the population as low as possible.
Not questioned by the public prosecutor
Wallner has not yet been questioned by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption about the allegations of corruption leveled against him. Other people were questioned about the matter, “there was no movement,” said Wallner. He is assuming that the proceedings against him will be discontinued, he emphasized again. He wants to “reorganize” the Vorarlberger Wirtschaftsbund by the end of the year.
An investigation is underway against the state governor for an accusation of accepting an advantage under Section 305 of the Criminal Code. Specifically: Wallner could have tried to demand advantages as a public official for the dutiful performance of official business – which Wallner again rejected as a “blatant lie”. “I know what I’m doing and what I’m not doing,” he stated firmly.
The person who made the accusation against Wallner is not known to the public, nor to the public prosecutor’s office. The “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” has an affidavit which states that Wallner offered consideration for advertisements in the now defunct newspaper of the Wirtschaftsbund (“Vorarlberger Wirtschaft”). “The least you can do is against anonymous allegations,” regretted Vorarlberg’s ÖVP boss. In the course of the turbulence surrounding the Economic Association, it is also being determined against Economic Councilor Marco Tittler (ÖVP). Should he have to resign if charges are brought? “I’m not anticipating that,” said Wallner, pointing out that the surveys are ongoing.
His statement that he had “watched too long” at the Wirtschaftsbund was related to the advertising volume of the “Vorarlberger Wirtschaft” – to nothing else. “You could see that the volume of advertisements was excessive in relation to the editorial part,” said Wallner. However, like his predecessors, he had no direct insight into the inner workings of the Wirtschaftsbund. “The purpose of the newspaper was to do advocacy, not sell ads,” he said.
From an organizational point of view, the mixing of sub-organizations/associations should be ended in both the business association and the senior citizens’ association. “We will have to make a clear distinction. That must be decided and implemented by the end of the year,” said ÖVP boss Wallner resolutely. The strict regulations of the new Vorarlberg party law, which is to come into force on January 1, 2023, are already being applied to the business association. “In terms of transparency, we are setting a new standard in Austria with this law,” Wallner said.
However, he also did not hide the fact that the internal audit of the Economic Association by BDO Austria had brought to light “the red line was crossed”. Wallner explicitly mentioned a “generous use” of funds that the BDO criticized. “That’s not my political style,” said the governor. After completing the tax office audit, the economic association will be reorganized in terms of content and personnel. He wants a strong business association “that is geared towards the interests of its members,” Wallner affirmed.
Source: Nachrichten
