Vienna / Leoben. The blue power struggle is coming to a head. The two-day FPÖ retreat in Styrian Leoben – which was supposed to be about the announced “modernization” of the party and stricter compliance rules – surprisingly rolled heads at the party head on Wednesday. Harald Vilimsky is stepping down as blue general secretary after 14 years – “voluntarily”, as he emphasizes. His co-Christian Hafenecker also goes.
Blue countries wanted to clean up Strache systematically
After his “success” in the EU election, he wanted to leave, but because of the party crisis following the Ibiza scandal, Vilimsky said in the ÖSTERREICH interview. Vilimsky remains head of the FPÖ delegation in the EU Parliament and is to lead the election campaign for the Viennese Blues.
However, the departure of the party manager may not have been as voluntary as the blue men have shown. As reported by AUSTRIA in October, Vilimsky had been trembling about his job since the expenses affair surrounding Heinz-Christian Strache had been exposed. At that time, several FP countries wanted a clear dividing line to the “Strache system” – in other words, to those top officials who allegedly approved the former party’s head of expenses.
Team Kickl. Vilimsky will succeed as party manager of the Lower Austrians Michael Schnedlitz. This point in the power struggle in the FPÖ that has been raging since Strache’s departure goes clearly to club boss Herbert Kickl. Schnedlitz is one of the closest confidants of Udo Landbauer, the head of the FPÖ Lower Austria.
Video on the subject:
Michael Schnedlitz new Secretary General
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Schnedlitz is not entirely unknown: the Vice Mayor of Wiener Neustadt caused a stir when he explicitly welcomed the far-right identities to a rally in 2016.
Burgenland election could put Hofer under pressure
Party leader Norbert Hofer, who had hoped to form a coalition with the ÖVP until the end, could come under pressure with the state election in Burgenland on January 26. If the Blues crashed there, too, in Hofer’s homeland, the debate on the president would definitely be an open one.
To Ibiza: “The strictest of all compliance rules”
At the exam, which continues today, the FPÖ also wants to enact “the strictest compliance rules of all parties” – not least because of the Ibiza and expense scandal. Stricter rules for membership in the Freedom Party should also be passed at the exam and a “more modern appearance” should be presented.
Vilimsky: “Me too Strache? Such nonsense”
Harald Vilimsky in conversation with AUSTRIA.
AUSTRIA: Why are you leaving?
Harald Vilimsky: The Secretary General is a job that you normally do for five years – but I’ve been doing it for 14 years now. The time to get out is just ideal now. Originally, after a success in the EU election, I wanted to resign as general secretary. But then the Ibiza scandal came.
AUSTRIA: Will you remain head of the EU delegation? They are supposed to organize the FPÖ’s Vienna election campaign.
Vilimsky: The international level remains to me – and yes, my friends from Vienna believe that I can help them make their choice.
AUSTRIA: But there is also a rumor that you could switch to the new Strache party …
Vilimsky: Total nonsense. I would never ever leave the FPÖ. (gü)
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