The public prosecutor’s office for business and corruption is again targeting Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) in its investigations. His closest circle of employees is also accused. In addition, however, with a spokesman for the finance department and two well-known pollsters, there are people who would not have been included in the inner circle. Finally, the media group “Austria” is also moving into the focus of the public prosecutors.
Sebastian SHORT
The current Federal Chancellor and VP Chairman is being investigated for breach of trust and corruption. The majority of the allegations come from a time when Kurz was still head of the Foreign Ministry and was almost on the verge of becoming the party leader.
Thomas SCHMID
Schmid is also being prosecuted for infidelity and corruption. The later BAG boss provided the basis for the investigation with his chats in this case as well. At the time of the events he was head of cabinet or general secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Today, after leaving the state holding company, he is no longer active in the public sector.
Johannes PASQUALI
Johannes Pasquali was already head of public relations in the finance department at the time of the incriminated events. The former Freedom Officer has been District Chairman of the VP in Vienna-Wieden for around five years. He is also being investigated for infidelity and corruption.
Johannes FRISCHMANN
Today’s spokesman for Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) was still active as a press spokesman in the finance department at the beginning of the proceedings that the public prosecutor is following.
Gerald FLEISCHMANN
Fleischmann has had a long career as a press spokesman, where he headed the media department of the People’s Party, among other things. When Sebastian Kurz entered government business, he already served as his spokesman, and later in the Chancellery as deputy head of cabinet. Today he is head of the media department in the Federal Chancellery.
Stefan STEINER
Steiner is considered to be the prototype of the man in the background. As a top official in the area of integration, he was Sebastian Kurz’s close companion for many years. In 2017 he moved to the VP Headquarters as General Secretary for a few months. He has been a strategic advisor to the People’s Party since 2018 and is involved in almost all important decisions. Like Fleischmann and Frischmann, he is also being investigated for corruption and infidelity.
SOPHIE KARMASIN
At the time of the investigated allegations, the pollster was working as a non-party family minister for the VP. After leaving politics, she was active again as an opinion researcher or consultant with a new company.
Sabine BEINSCHAB
Beinschab is the founder of the market research institute “Research Affairs”, which has carried out surveys for the “Austria” media group for many years. According to the prosecutor, she has long had professional ties with the Karmasin family. The pollsters are accused of embezzlement and bribery.
Wolfgang FELLNER
The prominent media manager and founder of magazines such as “Rennbahn Express”, “Basta” and “News” is the publisher of the daily newspaper “sterreich” and the head of the associated media group.
Helmuth FELLNER
Helmuth Fellner accompanied his brother in the various commercial start-ups of the magazines. He is not directly involved in “Austria”, but according to the public prosecutor’s office, he continues to be operationally involved in the business through a consulting company. The Fellner brothers are charged with embezzlement and bribery.
