2023-12-30 11:45:11
As GVV federal chairman, Kollross is the highest SPÖ community representative in Austria, SPÖ district party chairman in Babler’s home district and chairman of the Children’s Friends of Lower Austria
St. Pölten (OTS) – “The SPÖ NÖ must not sweep the rape fantasies of its National Council member Kollross under the table. A half-hearted apology will not suffice in this matter. Sexual violence is not a trivial offense. Especially not when it is expressed by a top politician,” VPNÖ state manager BR Matthias Zauner and women’s spokesperson LAbg. Silke Dammerer react to the SPÖ’s attempts to justify themselves following the “disgusting derailment” by National Councilor Andreas Kollross on social media.
“SPÖ NÖ chairman Sven Hergovich can’t just rant regarding New Year’s Eve fireworks, go back to business as usual and pretend that nothing happened. His party colleague Kollross has held important positions in the party for decades. He has been chairman of the Children’s Friends in Lower Austria for almost two decades and thus acts as a role model for social democratic families. Kollross is a national councilor and mayor of Trumau. He is the SPÖ district party chairman of Baden – the home district of SPÖ federal chairman Andreas Babler. To top off the scandal, he is also the highest representative of the SPÖ community representatives in Austria. Kollross is one of the absolute top SPÖ officials in Lower Austria. If he believes that such misogynistic ideas can be wiped away with a half-hearted apology, he still hasn’t understood the significance of his own comments. This wasn’t a prank – and he’s enough of a political professional to know exactly what he’s doing. There need to be consequences for Kollross and finally clear words from the SPÖ state chairman Hergovich. In contrast to Hergovich, at least SPÖ federal chairman Babler made a public statement. An official investigation and warning from the responsible state party is the minimum that needs to follow – other political parties have cracked down on sexist incidents in the past. In any case, the SPÖ NÖ will be judged by its actions in this case. The self-appointed Control State Councilor Sven Hergovich apparently only feels responsible for alleged grievances outside of his own internal party stable. But here he first has to show whether his promise of control is serious or just an empty political marketing slur. As state party chairman, he must take a stand and clearly condemn Kollross’ derailment,” said VPNÖ state manager Zauner.
Shame on you, Mr. Kollross – you haven’t just tarnished your own reputation
“We regularly discuss the status of women in our society and why it is so difficult to ensure real equality between women and men. Statements like those of Andreas Kollross show a moral image of social democracy that is frightening. Especially when they coincide almost simultaneously with incidents in neighboring Upper Austria, where firefighters are harassed by asylum seekers while on duty. This promotes a toxic climate that we really don’t need here in Lower Austria. We cannot tacitly accept such misogynistic ideas from a top politician. A 52-year-old man should know that such misogynistic comments are out of the question. I ask myself: How can one seriously publicly joke regarding the rape of women in 21st century Austria and the responsible state party leader doesn’t even bat an eyelid? Those who remain silent agree. When calling for the ‘right to the first night’, Kollross refers to a historical film from the 13th century. I ask myself: Are the gentlemen of social democracy really stuck in the Middle Ages with their image of women? And what worldview does Kollross convey as state chairman of the Kinderfreunde – an association that supports families – and as the SPÖ’s highest community representative? It is disappointing that SPÖ regional councilor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, who is responsible for anti-discrimination and equality in the Lower Austrian state government, as well as the SPÖ NÖ women’s spokesperson, Elvira Schmidt, are also silent regarding such a derailment,” said women’s spokesperson Dammerer, concluding emphasized: “Shame on you, Mr. Kollross. You have tarnished not only your own reputation, but also that of all the institutions in which you hold top positions. Behind which there are hundreds of women and men who are committed and know how to behave. And: Shame on you, Mr. Hergovich. They make the sexism of the Kollross brand socially acceptable through their silence. Both gentlemen apparently do not see it as necessary to draw conclusions from the disgusting statements. And that is the real scandal.”
Questions & Contact:
People’s Party of Lower Austria – The Lower Austria Party
Thomas Brunner
Press spokesman & press officer
0660/2504705
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