Explosive mistake

Kickl book: fuss about alleged “supporters”

Herbert Kickl has already criticized the book about him.(Bild: Screenshot/YouTube/FPÖ TV, zVg, Krone KREATIV)

The biography of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl written by two "profil" journalists has already made headlines. Now, however, it is not only the content but also the financing of the project that is coming under scrutiny. The City of Vienna and the Future Fund of the Republic are officially cited as "friendly supporters". The "Krone" took a closer look at the case.

"Apparently someone wants to ride the FPÖ's wave of success and make money," explained FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl in a YouTube video about the biography, which he did not authorize. As is well known, Herbert Kickl's maternal grandparents are incorrectly named in the book as Leopoldine and Johann Lackner; their actual names were Josefa and Josef Lackner.

Shortly after the FPÖ announced Kickl's reaction video on Wednesday, which went online at 7pm that evening, the Zsolnay publishing house issued an erratum. The authors explained that they had made an "unfortunate mistake". They apologize to "all those named" and the error will be corrected in the second edition. So far, so good. However, a small reference on the first few pages of the book has now added fuel to the fire.