The opposition would have to contend with a completely new problem in the committee of inquiry into allegations of corruption against the ÖVP: instead of too few files, too many irrelevant files would be delivered this time, said SPÖ parliamentary group leader Jan Krainer on Wednesday before the meeting in which the first informants should be invited. This time they are satisfied with the punctuality of the deliveries.
“ÖVP tries to dump us”
The file deliveries have already begun, and according to Krainer they should be completed in the coming days. Only two ministries had asked for an extension of the deadline, but this was not a problem. In fact, it is problematic for the SPÖ faction leader: “The ÖVP is trying to litter us with files.” So far, 800 paper files that were not requested at all have been delivered, which means several 100,000 pages.
Susanne Fürst from the FPÖ is expecting a lot from the new U-Committee, as new chats have just been published by the online medium zackzack.at, which would again show a moral image. By the way, the fact that Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was invited as the first person to provide information was not due to sensationalism, the Freedom Party asserted. Rather, he occupied key positions in his party during the period under investigation, such as General Secretary and Minister of the Interior.
“Best of Korruption”
For Stephanie Krisper from NEOS, the U-Committee is dealing with the very system that her party has wanted to fight since it was founded ten years ago. What has recently come to light is a “best of corruption”. It is important to the NEOS that it not only stays with the clarification in the committee, but that actual consequences, for example through new laws, are drawn.
ÖVP parliamentary group leader Andreas Hanger had previously emphasized that he was relaxed about the surveys. “I am sure that the ministries worked correctly during the investigation period,” he told the APA. Should there be misconduct, however, the corresponding consequences would have to be borne, according to Hanger.
In the evening, the factions in the U-Committee met for a meeting to decide on the opposition’s summons list, which is initially limited to March. After the start with Nehammer on the 2nd of the month, things should continue prominently: Ex-ÖBAG boss Thomas Schmid, entrepreneur Siegfried Wolf, Minister of Justice Alma Zadic (Greens) and other ministers from past governments are planned to provide information.
Source: Nachrichten
