Austrian Elections & Politics 5.0 (Burgenland state election - January 26)

[Tender Branson]

Johann Gudenus is the son of the late John Gudenus, a convicted Holocaust denier, and one of Strache‘s closest party members (along Hofer, Vilimsky and Upper Austrian party boss Haimbuchner).

Gudenus has studied in Russia, speaks the language fluently and set up the meeting in the staged video.

Gudenus, it was exposed, also used a Russian email account in the past with the password „heilheil“.

Also in the video, Strache talks about the Russian investor buying into the „Kronen Zeitung“ which is Austria’s biggest tabloid newspaper to influence the outcome of the 2017 election and of circumventing Austria‘s legal campaign finance laws, by donating to secret accounts for the FPÖ. According to Strache, billionaires like Gaston Glock etc. have done so already. Strache also called journalists „bitches“ in the video and that many of them need to be replaced immediately.

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/strache-video-johann-gudenus-fpoe-1.4451178

[Tender Branson]

Austrian far-right leader filmed offering public contracts for campaign support

The leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party has been filmed offering to trade public contracts for campaign support, German media reported Friday.

The revelations could bring Austria's government to breaking point amid growing tensions between the far-right party and its coalition partner, the Austrian People's Party of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

The secretly recorded footage of Heinz-Christian Strache, Austria's vice chancellor and leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ), was taken on the Spanish island of Ibiza before the Austrian election in 2017, according to Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which obtained the video from an unnamed source.

It shows Strache, alongside fellow FPÖ politician Johann Gudenus, speaking to a woman claiming to be a wealthy Russian citizen who said she wanted to invest in Austria, apparently with money of dubious origin.

The encounter, which lasted six hours, appeared to be a trap for Strache, according to Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche.



The woman offered to buy a 50 percent stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch it to a pro-FPÖ line. In turn, Strache said he could award her public contracts.

If the alleged Russian helped the FPÖ succeed, Strache said in the video, "she should found a company like Strabag," a major Austrian construction company. He added: "She will then get all the state contracts that Strabag gets now."

Strache and Gudenus also appeared to hint at the existence of a potentially illegal donation system for the party. The FPÖ leader said in the video that wealthy donors "pay between 500,000 and 1.5 to 2 million" not to the party but to an association.

Strache added: "The association is charitable, it's got nothing to do with the party. That way no report goes to the Rechnungshof," the Austrian court of auditors.

In comments to Süddeutsche and Der Spiegel, alleged donors named by Strache and Gudenus in the meeting denied sending money to the party either directly or indirectly. Strache and Gudenus said that such donations never arrived.

The two politicians did admit that the meeting happened, but said it had been a "purely private" encounter with plenty of alcohol involved. They said they had repeatedly mentioned "the relevant legal regulations and the necessity to observe Austrian law" during the evening.

In the video, Strache also said he wanted to "build a media landscape like Orbán," referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán.

https://www.politico.eu/article/austria-far-right-freedom-strache

The opposition (SPÖ, NEOS, Greens, NOW) all call for Strache's resignation, an investigation (which has already been announced) and new elections.

The ÖVP is completely silent right now and the FPÖ will sue the German newspapers for "aquiring illegal, fake material".

[Tender Branson]

The "Standard" reports that Chancellor Kurz will talk with Strache tomorrow and then to the press:

https://derstandard.at/2000103364196/Strache-soll-Staatsauftraege-fuer-Wahlkampfspenden-in-Aussicht-gestellt-haben

According to some FPÖ people, a resignation of Strache and Gudenus could be likely tomorrow - with Norbert Hofer taking over the party. It remains to be seen if Chancellor Kurz will also continue the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition in such a case, but what alternative does he have ? He still hates the SPÖ much more than the FPÖ.

[Omega21]

Oh God Strache, what have you done...

[PSOL]

Oh God Strache, what have you done...

He did something anyone else in the party would have done. It fits well with the constant corruption scandals, exposed from Italy to Sweden and France to Romania, that seem to follow Right wing populists. Almost like there is something in their worldview that enables this sort of behavior?

[Omega21]

Oh God Strache, what have you done...

He did something anyone else in the party would have done. It fits well with the constant corruption scandals, exposed from Italy to Sweden and France to Romania, that seem to follow Right wing populists. Almost like there is something in their worldview that enables this sort of behavior?

In this video, no actual crimes were committed, and yet, the same cannot be said for Hillary, who still ran for President in spite of her well-proven scandal with confidential information.

At least Europe has some standards, and he will most likely resign for his mistakes.

(and he should)

So, please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, or is Hillary also considered right-wing nowadays?

[JonHawk]

Oh God Strache, what have you done...

He did something anyone else in the party would have done. It fits well with the constant corruption scandals, exposed from Italy to Sweden and France to Romania, that seem to follow Right wing populists. Almost like there is something in their worldview that enables this sort of behavior?

Right wing populism will continue to rise in Europe. Cope harder

[Tender Branson]

It looks as if Chancellor Kurz will blow up the coalition today and pull a Schüssel 2.0 (like the former Chancellor did in 2002, when the previous ÖVP-FPÖ government exploded after the Knittelfeld putsch).

Kurz hopes that disappointed FPÖ-voters will push him above 40% in snap election, so that he can then form a new government with NEOS or with the Greens (or both, like here in Salzburg).

But more about this when Kurz really pulls the plug today and calls for early federal elections ...

---

Also: it looks like cocaine can be seen on the table in the staged Russian villa on Ibiza.

Also: in the video (6 hours of material !), Strache also talks about selling our pristine Alpine water to the Russians, which is a total no-go for Austrians and even FPÖ-voters. That was a total own goal and shows that Strache was exposed not as a patriot, but as a traitor to the country.


(FPÖ delegation with Putin's United Russia, signing a co-operation contract)

Also: the "Kronen Zeitung" newspaper (which Strache wanted to sell to the Russian oligarch woman for influence, to transform Austria's media landscape ala Orban (quote Strache) is out with a devastating cover today, so is the "Profil" magazine (notice that the "Krone" was always very favourable towards Strache and the FPÖ until recently):

"The FPÖ is done !" and "Endgame !"

 

[Tender Branson]

BREAKING NEWS:

Far-right FPÖ-leader Strache to offer Kurz and VdB his resignation as Vice-Chancellor in ca. 1-2 hours.

The FPÖ wants to continue the coalition with the ÖVP with Norbert Hofer, but it's not clear yet if Kurz will accept this or call for early elections ...

Strache has been FPÖ-leader for 14 years.

https://orf.at/stories/3122842

[President Johnson]

Hopefully this coalition ends now and FPÖ never rises to power again.

Would Kurz form another grand coalition without new elections? What the use of that? ÖVP-SPÖ have a comfortable majority. A new election wouldn't change that much other than the FPÖ losing a few points.

[Tender Branson]

Hopefully this coalition ends now and FPÖ never rises to power again.

Would Kurz form another grand coalition without new elections? What the use of that? ÖVP-SPÖ have a comfortable majority. A new election wouldn't change that much other than the FPÖ losing a few points.

According to the Standard's latest live-ticker post, new early elections are all but certain - because Chancellor Kurz has apparently refused to continue the coalition even with Norbert Hofer as new FPÖ-leader.

ÖVP-SPÖ without new elections won't make any sense, because Kurz hates the SPÖ.

If new elections are called, they will likely be held in late September (after the school holidays are over) or in October.

The most likely scenario is that Kurz will receive a huge amount of FPÖ-voters, getting 40%+ and then he can form a government with NEOS and/or Greens.

BTW: Strache will announce his [very likely] resignation in 15 minutes, live here:

https://tvthek.orf.at/live/ZIB-Spezial-zur-Causa-Ibiza/14014983

[windjammer]

Does Strache risk jail?
Because what he did looks like treason right?

[Tender Branson]

Does Strache risk jail?
Because what he did looks like treason right?

Yes. The SPÖ has already filed a charge against Strache and Gudenus with the state corruption prosecution.

Ernst Strasser, the former Austrian Interior Minister from the ÖVP and member of the EU parliament, once did roughly the same thing as Strache and Gudenus in that video ("cash for laws") and got a 3-year prison sentence.

[Tender Branson]

Interesting also that the video was made in the summer of 2017, before the federal election.

Why did those who made the video wait almost 2 years to publish it, rather than letting the bomb explode during the coalition talks already ?

[Tender Branson]

Strache speaking now ... ("leftist witch-hunt", "dirty campaigning" etc.)

[Tender Branson]

"They abused me under rising alcohol intoxication. My talking points were embarrassing ... and most embarrassing for my wife."

[Tender Branson]

Strache: "I was incredibly stupid."

[Tender Branson]

Strache:

"I have offered Chancellor Kurz my resignation from all offices, which he accepted. Norbert Hofer will take over the party as interim leader."

[windjammer]

If I were the OVP I would call new elections, get additional votes and then form a coalition again with FPO with Norbert Hofer. A weak ally would mean no opposition at all.

[Tender Branson]

And there he goes ...

[Tender Branson]

If I were the OVP I would call new elections, get additional votes and then form a coalition again with FPO with Norbert Hofer. A weak ally would mean no opposition at all.

Kurz has all the options now ... (his press statement will come in the afternoon).

Another coalition with the FPÖ seems unlikely after he calls early elections for the fall.

ÖVP-NEOS or ÖVP-NEOS-Greens is most likely (just like here in Salzburg).

Kurz can play the "I'm the safe bet for center-right voters."-card now and keep the FPÖ at 10% or something, while the ÖVP rises to 40%+.

[Tender Branson]

Johann Gudenus, the 2nd FPÖ-guy in the staged video along Strache, is also stepping down from all offices.

Gudenus was also Vienna's FPÖ-leader until today, so they will also need a new one there.

[DavidB.]

Goddamnit.

[mgop]

it's nice to see strache down. there are also many in ovp who are on russian dirty payroll.

[Omega21]

Goddamnit.

I've never been so sad for Austria...

Please, do us right wingers proud in the Netherlands.

it's nice to see strache down. there are also many in ovp who are on russian dirty payroll.

When will you people stop with the constant Russophobia?

Also, I didn't see Tender mention it:

ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VIDEO WERE ACTORS, NOT REAL RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS

That is the official statement of the Newspaper that released it.