In Ministry

“Weltanschauung” deprived general of top job

Because he is a Red and therefore did not fit in with the political concept, a three-star general from Innviertel is said to have been passed over for a top job in the Ministry of Defense. He has now been proved right after a complaint, but Lieutenant General Karl Schmidseder refused the compensation offered.

Lieutenant General Karl Schmidseder, who is considered to be close to the SPÖ (Social Democratic Party of Austria), has been vindicated by the Federal Equal Treatment Commission after he was not considered for a top job in the Ministry of Defense. The reason for not considering him was "his political views".

Advertisement "turned around"
The employer had "already favored a candidate with close ties to the ÖVP at the time of the advertisement", writes the commission according to media reports. The Ministry of Defense wanted to ensure "that this candidate would also be successful with his application" by structuring the tender.

Kopfinger made a career in Vienna
Schmidseder, who comes from Kopfing in the Innviertel region and was Head of Cabinet under Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ), had applied for the civilian post of Director General for Defense Policy, along with two civilians and another military man. This is one of the top jobs that were advertised as a result of the central office reform decided under Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP). As a result of the reform, the previous sections in the ministry became directorates. 

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP)(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

General even wanted to take off his uniform
In principle, there are civilian and military posts in the armed forces. Civilians cannot apply for military posts, but the other way round is possible and is also common practice. However, if a soldier is given a civilian post, he must "take off his uniform". Schmidseder, who also completed a "civilian degree", was apparently prepared to do this.

"Common practice"
However, only civilians were assessed in the application process for the post of Director General. The ministry argued that the possibility for military personnel to apply for a civilian post did not apply to senior posts such as that of Director General, which was common practice. The job was then given to Arnold Kammel, who was Tanner's head of cabinet at the time.

Now it goes one level higher
Schmidseder then turned to the Federal Equal Treatment Commission. The commission found that the defense department had made an "unobjective pre-selection". The fact that Schmidseder's application was not considered "constitutes discrimination on the basis of ideology". The case is now before the Federal Administrative Court because the compensation offered to Schmidseder by the Ministry of Defense was too low.