After the resignation

Local leader admits: “I overstepped my boundaries!”

The police guarded the municipal office in Vösendorf in December because of the mayor's "little violet".(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Reinhard Judt, Facebook.com)

Last year, Hannes Koza had defied all accusations - and even won the absolute for the ÖVP in Vösendorf in the early elections. Now his past has caught up with the controversial local leader - resignation. The malice of the political competition is not long in coming ...

Just under a year ago, the so-called invoice affair tore open deep rifts in the political landscape of the village in the district of Mödling. As mayor, Hannes Koza (ÖVP) had attempted to manipulate a private lawyer's invoice and have it paid by the municipality.

The case came to light - Koza took refuge in a new election. After a dirty election campaign on all sides, he triumphed with an absolute majority.

All was still well with the world for Hannes Koza (right): after his election triumph, he was sworn in by the district governor together with the deputy mayor.(Bild: Gemeinde Vösendorf)

From victim to accused
In December, the next stir in Vösendorf: Koza presented himself with "violets". He had been threatened and beaten up by a stranger. The result: a municipal council meeting under police protection. However, this very incident has now apparently caught up with the controversial local politician.

According to a media report, Koza has mutated from victim to accused in this case. He is suspected of having "faked" the attack on him.

On Thursday, Koza announced his resignation: "I wanted to put myself in the role of a victim in the hope that the personal attacks would finally stop. Today is the day when I have to admit to myself that I have overstepped my boundaries."

A new political start called for
This is grist to the mill of his political opponents. FPÖ provincial party secretary Alexander Murlasits speaks of a "Koza system" and "Koza's deception". Nevertheless, he acknowledges: "Koza is drawing the only correct conclusion with his resignation." The SPÖ is calling for a fresh political start in Vösendorf: "Escapades and autocracy must be a thing of the past."