"Don't think anything of it"

Allegations against Kurz judge: Greens rail against ÖVP

The debate about the alleged bias of the judge who found former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz guilty of making false statements last week continues. The Greens are now calling on the ÖVP to show moderation. She thinks "nothing of political accusations", rages party leader Sigrid Maurer against her coalition partner. 

After it became known that Michael Radasztics, judge in the false testimony trial against former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), was sentenced to a disciplinary penalty by the Graz Higher Regional Court in May last year and the ÖVP subsequently found "the appearance of bias", the Green coalition partner has once again voiced criticism towards the People's Party.

Thejudiciary should "work in peace"
 "I don't believe in political shouting", said Sigrid Maurer, head of the Green Party, to APA on Friday in Innsbruck. The ÖVP should also take this to heart, Maurer said, alluding to statements made by ÖVP Secretary General Christian Stocker. The judiciary should "be able to work in peace". "I have full confidence in the independence of the judiciary", declared the head of the party on the fringes of a party event for the Innsbruck municipal elections. Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) is the guarantor of this very independence.

No criminal offense, but disciplinary punishment
Radasztics was convicted under disciplinary law in two cases, both dating back to his time as a public prosecutor. He originally investigated former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser and then oversaw the Eurofighter proceedings for years until 2019. On the one hand, he initially discontinued the investigation against Grasser and then failed to inform him in 2012 that criminal proceedings were underway against him.

On the other hand, he informed Peter Pilz, then a member of the National Council, of the existence of an instruction in the Eurofighter file, according to the judgment of the Graz Higher Regional Court. However, this information was delivered to the Eurofighter U Committee - and therefore to the other MPs - shortly afterwards anyway. Criminal investigations into this were discontinued.