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Hannes Koza: “It blew my brains out”

Hannes Koza in an interview with the "Krone" - he talks about the reasons why it "blew his brains out" back then.(Bild: Urbantschitsch Mario)

Vösendorf's ex-mayor Hannes Koza faked an attack on himself at the end of 2024 - and destroyed his career in the process. Now the 47-year-old speaks out in the "Krone" newspaper. "The terrible pressure in politics", he says, "has made me mentally ill".

Last Sunday's municipal elections in Vösendorf, Lower Austria - held due to exceptional circumstances - resulted in a victory for the ÖVP, albeit with the loss of an absolute majority. Mayor Birgit Petross's list received 33.1 percent of the vote, giving her twelve seats.

The former head of the village, Hannes Koza, found out the result from afar - on vacation in Croatia. As he says, he "simply didn't want to be at home" on the day of the vote. Because the past, "and therefore my absurd actions" in 2024, were still tormenting him too much.

"It'stime to talk publicly about all themadness"
 "I was at my wits' end back then," the 47-year-old repeatedly emphasized in the interview he gave to the "Krone" shortly before his departure: "I think it's time to finally talk publicly about all the madness." The "madness" he is referring to: his crime, which made headlines far beyond the borders of Lower Austria.