The party has had enough

A bombshell in the ÖVP! It’s time for a shake-up

The ÖVP has had enough: Walter Ruck is being expelled from the party, as the “Krone” has learned.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

Apparently, even the ÖVP has had enough: After the leaked transcripts brought the unsavory system surrounding Vienna Chamber of Commerce boss Walter Ruck into the public eye, ÖVP leader and Chancellor Christian Stocker is reportedly taking initial action on Friday. 

As the “Krone” reported, Stocker had already demanded an investigation and consequences shortly after the allegations against Walter Ruck came to light.

The Chamber of Commerce chief himself had not since commented publicly on the allegations; the Chamber of Commerce had effectively shut him out. A spokesperson for Ruck referred to “unverifiable and potentially illegally obtained audio recordings.” Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) had also been notably cautious regarding the allegations against Ruck—a stance that immediately drew criticism from his federal party chairman, Andreas Babler. 

The ÖVP has had enough: Walter Ruck is being expelled from the party, as the “Krone” has learned.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

The ÖVP has had enough
In the People’s Party—especially in the chancellery—they now seem determined to take decisive action. As the “Krone” has learned, Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker will convene a virtual meeting of the ÖVP federal party executive committee for Friday evening.

There’s essentially only one name on the agenda—Walter Ruck. He will likely have to leave the People’s Party. The “Stilts-Gate” scandal, the misogynistic remarks, and the allegations of political patronage have become too much for the ÖVP.

ÖVP leader and Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker is now taking action in the wake of the “Ruck Stilt-Gate” scandal.(Bild: Eva Manhart)

The ÖVP has made it unmistakably clear that it intends to “draw the right conclusions.” The pressure apparently became too great—so now they’re passing it directly on to Ruck. After all, the ÖVP can de facto only expel Ruck from the party—and thus also from the Economic Association, Ruck’s political home within the ÖVP.

In the Chamber, the much-criticized president—thanks to its self-governing structure—will remain in office even as an independent. As reported, the only body that can remove him from office is the Economic Parliament of the Vienna Provincial Chamber, which “can pass a vote of no confidence in the president it elected.” Whether that will actually happen or whether Ruck will step down on his own remains to be seen...