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Austrian Prosecutors Charge ÖVP Leader Wöginger with Abuse of Office Over Braunau Tax Office Appointment

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Updated May 17, 2025, 07:34 AM

The Austrian Public Prosecutor's Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) has filed charges against August Wöginger, the parliamentary group leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), for abuse of office. The indictment, submitted to the Regional Court in Linz, accuses Wöginger of intervening to secure the appointment of an ÖVP-affiliated mayor as head of the Braunau tax office. According to testimony from key witness Thomas Schmid, Wöginger allegedly influenced two officials to facilitate this appointment despite clear conflicts of interest. The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to five years and may result in Wöginger losing his parliamentary mandate.

The case also involves two civil servants who are charged alongside Wöginger. The indictment has sparked political debate, testing the resilience of the governing coalition, including the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Neos. There is also mention of a possible diversion procedure that could allow Wöginger to avoid a criminal conviction. Meanwhile, the Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has issued warnings about Chinese "overseas police services" operating in Vienna, linked to unregistered associations with ties to the local SPÖ, raising concerns about surveillance and repression within the Chinese diaspora.

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#August Wöginger #ÖVP #Regional Court #Linz #Wöginger #Braunau #Thomas Schmid #Social Democratic Party #SPÖ #Neos #Chinese #Vienna

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Laura Harth

@LauraHarth

Austria: the Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns against Chinese "overseas police services" and “instrumentalization, repression and surveillance of Chinese diaspora” through united front affiliated networks. From China Targets @StefanMelichar @ICIJorg https://t.co/FHrJiQEACt

KURIER

@KURIERat

Kucher (SPÖ) about Kickl The SPÖ clubman on the Corona and Pilnacek factions in Herbert Kickl's Club, the budget speech and unity in Social Democracy. https://t.co/xIzCsAmQY2

Stefan Melichar

@StefanMelichar

Phased on the brink of viability: the million-dollar process over controversial real estate deals from the Austrian Integration Fund/ÖIF process: shrill whistling, public hearing in progress — and a whiff of Palermo https://t.co/73QQvQUWSJ @profilonline

Story Timeline

1 month ago•Latest version

Austrian Prosecutors Charge ÖVP Leader Wöginger with Abuse of Office Over Braunau Tax Office Appointment

1 month ago

Austrian Prosecutors Charge ÖVP Leader Wöginger Over Braunau Tax Office Appointment, FPÖ Launches Inquiry

1 month ago•Original version

Austrian Prosecutors Charge ÖVP Leader August Wöginger with Abuse of Office Over Braunau Tax Office Appointment

Austrian Prosecutors Charge ÖVP Leader Wöginger with Abuse of Office Over Braunau Tax Office Appointment

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