Disrespectful posting?

After Androsch’s death: outrage over 2 local politicians

Hannes Androsch in his villa in Altaussee(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

There is uproar in Altaussee, where Hannes Androsch, who died at the age of 86, had a residence and invested a lot: two local councillors posted an ambiguous picture on WhatsApp. They reject the accusations "in the strongest terms".

He was a visionary, generous supporter and always a welcome guest at the local regulars' tables: Hannes Androsch and "his" Altausseer were bound together in respect and friendship. The mourning at the foot of the Loser for the 86-year-old deceased "salt baron", who was involved in the salt works, owned the luxury hotel Mayrlife and built a gondola lift, is correspondingly great.

And so on Wednesday evening at the municipal council meeting in Altaussee, on the initiative of Mayor Gerald Loitzl (ÖVP), the deceased politician was remembered and a minute's silence was held. Two local councillors, who are considered harsh critics of the industrialist, are said to have initially behaved "disrespectfully", but at least stood up from their seats for the deceased.

"I can only distance myself from this"
After the meeting, however, there was a major scandal: the politician and the politician posted a photo of Leopold Figl presenting the state treaty on their WhatsApp profiles. Without comment - but many horrified Altaussee residents immediately had the legendary Chancellor's words "Austria is free" in their ears. Bright indignation in Altaussee! 

"If the two of them had paraphrased the slogan to Hannes Androsch, that would be strongly condemned," says local leader Loitzl angrily. "I can only distance myself from this!"

The "Krone" reached the local councillor on the phone and confronted him with the WhatsApp. He rejected the accusations "in the strongest terms", saying that the post had been published on his private channel: "Anyone who says anything else about me will be sued!"