Vice mayors and club bosses are affected.
Graz. The FPÖ leadership in Graz has to draw personal consequences after serious allegations: Vice-mayor Mario Eustacchio and club chairman Armin Sippel withdraw as a result of several revelations about FPÖ-internal cash flows, which became public at the beginning of October. It is said that personal fees were paid with club subsidies, for which the taxpayers pay. Including the one for Sippel, who was employed by the Styrian publishing association, which is close to the FPÖ, from 2012 to 2020. The “Kleine Zeitung” reports in the case of the vice mayor of 50,000 euros, in the case of Sippels it should have been 16,000 euros.
According to a broadcast, the two will not accept their mandates in the coming municipal council period. In addition, they had promised “full cooperation” in the investigation, it said. Eustacchio will formally remain Vice Mayor until the new city government is sworn in. The constituent meeting is scheduled for November 17th.
FPÖ state party leader Mario Kunasek was informed on Sunday about the decisions of the two local politicians. This wants to have the party finances audited externally. (APA)
(“Die Presse”, print edition, November 2nd, 2021)