“Tagespresse” boss: FPÖ wants to “intimidate the entire industry”

180 people from literature, music, film and cabaret call on the party with a list of signatures to withdraw the lawsuit. In the APA interview, “Tagespresse” founder Fritz Jergitsch says that the FPÖ wants to “intimidate the entire industry”, while cabaret artist Florian Scheuba notes that the FPÖ may be trying to compete with the satirical portal.

In the support initiative launched by Gerhard Ruiss from the IG authors and Rabenhof director Thomas Gratzer, it is pointed out that “all the characteristics of a SLAPP lawsuit” – i.e. an intimidation lawsuit – are present. “Regardless of how the court decides: The fact that this lawsuit was filed at all, although nobody suffered material or physical damage and the ‘daily press’ immediately cleared up the deception, allows conclusions to be drawn about the FPÖ’s motive. By firing all legal artillery Critical media, satire, art and culture should be intimidated from all pipes,” the statement said.

47,500 euros in dispute

The letter is supported by the IG Kabarett, the press club Concordia and the Austrian PEN Club. Josef Hader, Ursula Strauss, Michael Niavarani, Jan Böhmermann, Marlene Streeruwitz, Thomas Stipsits, Stefanie Sargnagel, Herbert Föttinger, Marie Kreutzer, Maschek, Christoph Grissemann, Dirk Stermann, Ruth Brauer, Nicholas Ofczarek, Michael Ostrowski, Caro Athanasiadis and Florian Scheuba explained.

The lawsuit for injunctive relief and publication of the judgment in the weekend editions of two Lower Austrian newspapers at the Vienna Commercial Court amounts to EUR 47,500. The FPÖ Lower Austria is taking action against those FPÖ fake letters that were sent by the “daily press” in April to around 500 restaurateurs in connection with the inn bonus announced by black and blue. It speaks of a newly created “Department for the Promotion of Patriotic Food Culture”. In addition to a “breading quota”, a “red-white-red children’s menu” was suggested as a criterion for assessing whether the business was suitable for the tavern premium, which featured an “Andreas Hofer schnitzel” or a “Gabalier meat loaf”. could.

“If the FPÖ got through this in court, it would be quite painful”

“Tagespresse” founder Jergitsch sees the lawsuit as a distinction, since it is the task of satire to annoy the powerful and hold up a mirror to them, but it is by no means pleasant. “If the FPÖ got through this in court, it would be quite painful,” he says. In the worst case, the satirist expects costs of around 70,000 euros. The interference with the right to a name is not disputed. The FPÖ Lower Austria also argues with credit damage and unfair competition to intimidate potential imitators. “That’s why it’s so important that the industry gives a sign of unity and shows that this way of taking action against criticism does not go unanswered,” says Jergitsch, happy about the solidarity action.

Scheuba sees the argumentation of the FPÖ Lower Austria, according to which there is unfair competition, as an indication that “the FPÖ may really be trying to compete with the ‘daily press'”. The thought that the FPÖ is serious about its complaint seems at least questionable to the cabaret artist. Because: “Should a court find that this text from the ‘daily press’ is so close to reality that it could just as well have come from the FPÖ, then that would be a devastating realization for the FPÖ and the public.”

Don’t be intimidated

Scheuba considers it important not to be intimidated by such lawsuits. “The point of a SLAPP lawsuit is that something should disappear from the public eye. You have to do the opposite and seek publicity,” says the cabaret artist. “Such lawsuits have no effect on us. We will continue to bring the things we stand by,” says Jergitsch. They are also sticking to the tavern bonus campaign. “The FPÖ’s aim with the premium is to intervene in the menu design and thus in something that is characterized by cultural exchange. If an attempt is made to launch an inn premium with patriotic, nationalistic criteria, that should be criticized,” according to the “daily press “-Founder.

Legally, Jergitsch sees artistic freedom in the country well secured with many court decisions. On an economic level, however, it is different. The media in particular are very vulnerable to SLAPP lawsuits and pressure from politicians because of the funding and advertising culture. “Journalism, which sees itself as the fourth pillar of democracy, but then lets itself be supported by other pillars of democracy, is not a pillar. I would like the media and the arts to dedicate themselves more to models that make it possible to express themselves finance and not be dependent on the good will of politicians,” says Jergitsch, who admits, however, that this is easier said than done.

Scheuba identifies another problematic point: “For a long time there was a broad consensus not to complain about satire because it’s incredibly stupid. Obviously, this basic consensus of minimal intelligence can no longer be enforced. We have an educational problem and it would be amazing if that of politics would not reflect.”

The “daily press” still has about a week to answer the lawsuit. A trial date will then be set, provided the FPÖ does not withdraw the lawsuit. The support initiative is to be continued until the FPÖ refrains from filing the lawsuit.