"Disrespectful Remarks": Reprimand for Westenthaler from ORF Foundation Councillors

Lederer reprimanded Westenthaler on Wednesday for his "disrespectful remarks." Schütze reminded that the highest ORF body is "not a mini-parliament" and should not be "abused for party-political games."

Westenthaler and FPÖ media spokesperson Christian Hafenecker used Tuesday morning to list what they saw as ORF's failings for over an hour, without holding back. Westenthaler was outraged, for example, that Foundation Board resolutions from the first two meetings of the current period are to be confirmed again on Thursday.

The background is that at the inaugural meeting in June, the election of the chairman and all subsequent resolutions were made by 34 instead of 35 people. This was also the case at the meeting in September. Gertrude Aubauer, appointed by the ORF Audience Council, had withdrawn before the first meeting due to suspected incompatibility. She is the deputy chairwoman of the ÖVP seniors. According to the ORF law, persons with political functions are not allowed to take a seat in the ORF bodies.

ORF Foundation Board members reprimand Westenthaler

Lederer and Schütze emphasized at a press conference on Wednesday that they only want to confirm the resolutions again to "double secure" and ensure legal certainty in any case. No one has ordered this. "There are absolutely no failings," said Lederer.

Apart from that, the Foundation Board members will also be dealing with the budget for 2026 on Thursday. According to the financial plan, a balanced budget is planned, with around 100 million euros needing to be saved. "The key is that the savings path continues as before," said Schütze, the Foundation Board member appointed by the ÖVP. He spoke of "good signals" that the currently negotiated salary agreement for ORF employees is being conducted with "prudence." "The ORF, with its highly privileged form of financing, has the task of proceeding with moderation in salary agreements," said Schütze.

"ORF stars" should contribute to the pot

Lederer is still concerned with the sometimes extensive side jobs of ORF employees. "ORF stars" should, of course, be allowed to appear in the context of moderations or write books. However, it must be done with discretion, as the employer has an interest in employees resting during their free time. At the same time, the chairman of the board of trustees insists that those "ORF stars" with substantial additional income voluntarily pay ten to fifteen percent of their earnings into a fund that should benefit younger colleagues. "This is in planning, and I hope it will be implemented at the beginning of next year," said Lederer.

Also next year, another "Future Day" of the ORF board of trustees is planned, during which the public service mandate will be examined more closely. 2026 should be seen as the "Year of Public Service and its Development," said Lederer.

The chairman also suggests a discussion process regarding ORF content on the streaming platform Joyn of the ProSiebenSat.1Puls4 group. "My main message is: cooperation yes, but on a legally and economically reasonable basis," said Lederer.

VwGH on Previous Appointments of Audience Councils

With regard to the ORF committees and their composition, the Administrative Court (VwGH) has, according to "Standard," dismissed and rejected a revision in a case against a previous appointment of ORF audience councils. The Press Club Concordia saw illegal appointments in twelve out of a total of 17 audience council members appointed by the then media minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) in 2022 - for example, because their appointment was not based on legally required three-person proposals or on proposals from institutions that are not representative of their area.

The media authority KommAustria did not see itself as responsible, which the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG) confirmed. Concordia unsuccessfully filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court (VfGH). And now, according to "Standard," the VwGH also saw no possibility of control. "This means that, for example, federal ministers or now the federal government can disregard the requirements of the ORF law for appointments and appoint excluded persons to ORF committees - and this remains without consequences if these persons do not resign themselves," quoted the daily newspaper lawyer Wilfried Embacher.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.