What role did he play?

Kurz trial: Gernot Blümel’s turn on Thursday

Gernot Blümel will testify as a witness in the ÖBAG trial.(Bild: APA/HANS PUNZ)

Former Turkish Finance Minister Gernot Blümel is the last prominent witness from the (then) government to be summoned on Thursday in the trial against former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) for making false statements in the Ibiza Investigation Committee. The former top politician is said to have played a key role in the ÖBAG case.

Among other things, Blümel was a negotiator for the turquoise-blue government. He is to provide information about the influence Kurz actually had on staff appointments at the state holding company ÖBAG, among others.

One of Blümel's predecessors as finance minister, Hartwig Löger (ÖVP), has already testified as a witness in court. Kurz - like his former head of cabinet Bernhard Bonelli - is accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) of having played down his role in appointments to the ÖBAG supervisory board, for example.

Blümel first point of contact according to Schmid
The ex-chancellor's statements contradict those of the former board member of the state holding company, Thomas Schmid, who was also called as a witness.

Blümel was Finance Minister of the Republic under Kurz.(Bild: APA/HERBERT NEUBAUER)

Schmid had stated that Blümel was the first point of contact for ÖBAG. A chat message from Blümel to Schmid had said: "Don't worry, you're family." Kurz's confidant had wanted to say "Thomas, you're one of us", Schmid interpreted this in court. He had the "closest relationship" with Blümel during his time in government. It was tough, but often funny. Today, however, there is no longer any contact.

The further timetable
On January 30, ÖBAG Supervisory Board Chairman Helmut Kern, Bernd Brünner, former Secretary General in the Federal Chancellery, and ÖBAG Supervisory Board member Susanne Höllinger will take the witness stand. Günther Helm, former head of the Hofer discount store and later a member of ÖBAG's supervisory board, will follow on January 31.

It is not yet clear whether two Russian businessmen, who had requested Kurz's and Bonelli's defense, will appear as witnesses. They are said to have held a job interview with Schmid.