Thread by @_FelixSimon_

It's an ordinary Friday evening, and the German newspaper @SZ drops a bombshell investigation into Austria's right-wing populist party FPÖ and its leader, HC Strache. A short summary… (Thread)

projekte.sueddeutsche.de/artikel/politi…

Strache is Austria's vice-chancellor, his party is propping up Austria's right-wing conservative government.

The SZ and der Spiegel have received secretly filmed video material which shows Strache talking about being willing to accept questionable donations from Russia.

The video shows Strache talking to the alleged niece of a Russian oligarch close to Putin. She indicates several times that she would invest several hundred million euros (in return for favours) to help Strache win, Russian money of unclear origin.

The clou: she is a decoy.

In the secretly filmed video, Strache also speaks of his desire to re-design the Austrian media system in Hungarian fashion – which would mean the end of a free press and an independent public broadcaster.

According to the SZ, one can also hear how Strache describes how the Russian could illegally and clandestinely donate money to the FPÖ. He also claims that several Austrian billionaires have used this option in the past to donate to his party.

Over the course of the meeting, which lasted about seven hours, several potential cooperations were discussed. If they had been implemented, some of them would presumably have been illegal, says the SZ.

These revelations will potentially put further pressure on the Austrian government and the FPÖ’s coalition party.

A summary (in German) can be found here: sueddeutsche.de/politik/strach…

The investigation was jointly conducted by the investigative teams of Der Spiegel and the SZ. The SZ’s @f_obermaier & @b_obermayer won a Pulitzer for their work on the Panama Papers story. As far as investigative journalism goes, this is the best Germany has to offer right now.

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer What this also underscores: the importance of good (investigative) journalism. Support the free press and if you can, subscribe to your local paper and a national outlet that does that kind of work.

Nothing could scare people like Strache, Trump, et al. more.

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer Btw, just found the English version of the investigation into HC Strache…

projekte.sueddeutsche.de/artikel/politi…

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer Knowing my (2nd) home country's politics, the most likely outcome of the #StracheVideo seems to me:

1.) 0 happens. Strache will have to apologise and then everyone hopes that the news cycle moves on.
2.) Strache resigns/is forced to resign, but will steer things from the back.

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer Unless there is a major shift in public opinion (which I think unlikely), no point for Kurz in holding new elections. He needs the FPÖ, unless he wants to govern with the Social Democrats (cannot see that happening right now).

politico.eu/2019-european-…

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer ÖVP (Kurz): 34%
FPÖ (Strache): 22%

Only viable alternative for Kurz: SPÖ.

Will FPÖ voters turn away from their party/Strache because of this scandal? Don't think so. It's no secret that he is harbouring love for Russia and other autocrats. They voted for him despite this.

@f_obermaier @b_obermayer The FPÖ, at least, seems to take the situation seriously. Their usual propaganda machine hasn't sprung into action (yet).

Strache's FB and Twitter: Silent
The FPÖ’s FB: Silent
Austria's right-wing alternative news sites: Silent

No mention or defence of the scandal.

Just to make one thing abundantly clear before I head to bed: This investigation does NOT claim that Strache took money from Russia, nor does it provide proof for that.

It only describes Strache’s willingness to do so in a meeting that was a set-up.

Important difference.

Update:

https://twitter.com/_felixsimon_/status/1129855722752290823?s=21