That's how close they were

Greens scrutinize Benko’s connection to Sobotka

Nina Tomaselli (Greens) forces answers from Wolfgang Sobotka on his connection with René Benko.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH, zVg)

It was a sensation when reports from "Krone" and "News" revealed the political connections of SOKO Signa boss Manuel Scherscher. The Green Party investigator Nina Tomaselli wants to take a closer look at the black wires, but above all the connection between the Tyrolean real estate juggler René Benko and National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka - and asks the outgoing president a few awkward questions. 

Manuel Scherscher was once a close colleague of Wolfgang Sobotka in the Ministry of the Interior and ran for the National Council in the 2019 elections for the ÖVP under Sebastian Kurz. As head of "SOKO" Signa, he of all people is now supposed to drive forward the investigation into financial juggler René Benko, even though he had a close relationship with National Council President Sobotka and Kurz.

"Scherscher is the head of the white-collar crime department, and due to this position and the division of responsibilities, he is responsible for carrying out the tasks of the official management of SOKO-Signa," said the Federal Criminal Police Office. So everything is half as bad? Not at all, say the Greens. Specialist Nina Tomaselli is particularly interested in Benko's connection to Sobotka and is now even submitting a parliamentary question to the coalition partner.