After Indictment Against Wöginger: This is How the Coalition Reacts

SP State Secretary Michaela Schmidt stated that there are no difficulties in the cooperation, and Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) was confident that the issue would "not affect" the government's work at all.

ÖVP Stands Behind Wöginger After Indictment

Chancellery Minister Claudia Plakolm declared that the ÖVP supports Wöginger 100 percent. She did not want to comment on the possible outcome of the case. One can never preempt a court proceeding. Wiederkehr was confident that Wöginger and the ÖVP would appropriately cooperate in the clarification. The matter must be resolved by the courts, said State Secretary Josef Schellhorn (NEOS) at the press foyer after the Council of Ministers. Schmidt trusted in the independent judiciary. Science Minister Eva Maria Holzleitner did not want to evaluate whether Wöginger remains at the head of the club after the Council of Ministers. She could not and would not dictate anything to parliamentary clubs. After all, club chairmen are elected by their respective clubs.

Indictment Against Wöginger for Abuse of Office

The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office recently filed an indictment against Wöginger for abuse of office at the Linz Regional Court. He is accused of having intervened with the former chief of staff of the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid, for the appointment of an Upper Austrian ÖVP mayor to the board of the tax office for Braunau, Ried, and Schärding. Wöginger sees himself as innocent.

(APA/Red)

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