2024-01-13 07:03:01
Former Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, who came under criticism for his business activities at Signa, rejects leaving the SPÖ. He has been active at all levels of social democracy for almost 50 years and supports the goals of social democracy. “And just as I used to do it in a function, I’m doing it now as a simple member and nothing will change,” said Gusenbauer on Ö1 on Saturday.
Gusenbauer does not share fears in his party that he might harm the SPÖ and ultimately cost it its election victory: “Firstly, the SPÖ has not yet lost the election and I am confident that it will do well. And secondly, to try It would be a pretty cheap thing to blame any goals that may not be achieved on me.” The former SPÖ chairman emphasized that he still feels “closely connected” to social democratic values.
Calls for consequences for Gusenbauer had recently become loud in the SPÖ. In particular, the high consulting fees that Gusenbauer received from the Signa Group in addition to his role as chairman of the supervisory board of the now insolvent companies Signa Prime and Signa Development caused criticism. The Burgenland SPÖ spoke out in favor of expelling the ex-party leader, while the state parties from Tyrol, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg suggested that the ex-chancellor should suspend his party membership.
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has repeatedly condemned Gusenbauer’s role in Signa, but did not speak out in favor of a party expulsion process. The Social Democrats in Lower Austria, Carinthia and Vienna see it similarly.
An application has been made by Section 8 of the SPÖ in Vienna-Alsergrund to expel Gusenbauer from the party. However, the application would first have to be submitted by the Alsergrund district party in order to be processed.
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