Approaching the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, former Wifo economist Stephan Schulmeister shared several anti-Semitic posts, including a photo of Joseph Goebbels. Schulmeister justified himself in a “personal statement” and has since apologized.
Since Saturday evening, posts and posts shared by Stephan Schulmeister are causing anger and outrage. Schulmeister, a prominent economist close to the SPÖ, shared several anti-Semitic photos and posts over the weekend, including a photo of Joseph Goebbels or posts from Jake Shields, known as an open Shoah denier. The American mixed martial arts fighter has been known for his anti-Semitic posts since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
At first, some users assumed that Schulmeister’s account might have been hacked. On Sunday, however, a “brief personal explanation” followed from Schulmeister: “I try to understand conflicts as something systemic,” he wrote on see. (…) To those who see me as an anti-Semite: I always see history through the eyes of Israel. However: If at the same time the power and the lack of power are more unequally distributed, there is a risk of major crimes (Armenian genocide, Holocaust as examples of horrors).
“horrific anti-Semite”
With this, Schulmeister provoked a wave of anger on Sunday. Bini Guttmann, a board member of the World Jewish Congress, described Schulmeister as a “disgraceful anti-Semite” in a statement about his job. “I hope this has (political) consequences for you.” Schulmeister, in turn, responded: “With tweets like this the war is being played on Twitter – I won’t participate if it makes it easier for you, fine. “
The Chancellor’s press spokesman, Daniel Kosak, was equally clear. The anti-Semitic filth that Mr. Schulmeister has written and posted over the last 48 hours was “really hard to bear.” A good part is “corrected nonsense”.
Martin Engelberg, who is still a member of the ÖVP in the National Council, said of Schulmeister’s attempt to justify: “A small personal explanation: Finally you have revealed yourself as the shameful anti-Semite of Judaism and any moral credibility (which left) you lost. Get off my plane!”
Schulmeister has since apologized for sharing the Goebbels photo.
SPÖ is going away
Schulmeister is not a member of the SPÖ, but is considered close to the SPÖ. He worked with Wifo until 2012 and commented favorably on SPÖ’s economic program during the National Council election campaign. When asked on Sunday, a spokesman for Andreas Babler stressed that Schulmeister had no connection with the SPÖ and did not advise them. (jewel)
