This week is a special time to pay tribute to the mothers of this world. One in particular, of course, namely that of Thomas Schmid, ex-intimus of Sebastian Kurz and possible key witness in the future.
After he had unpacked extensively about the ex-chancellor in the affair about infidelity, bribery and abuse of office that had been smoldering since 2021, Schmid explained that it was his mother who was the decisive factor in his confession.
“We did things that weren’t right. (…) What made me change my mind was that my mother said we didn’t bring you up that way; if you did something wrong, then own up to it and that with everyone consequences.” So a round of applause for Ms. Schmid. But now, of course, we have to take a closer look at what her son, who first as Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance and then as a member of the board of the Öbag state holding orchestrated the rise of Sebastian Kurz, said. And what the consequences are, above all, for the former and currently incumbent ÖVP team.
On the one hand, Schmid admitted “to have used the resources of the Ministry of Finance to support the advancement of the ÖVP under Sebastian Kurz”. The former Chancellor not only knew about it, but also gave the order for it. Schmid also raises serious allegations against other ÖVP grandees (here is an overview). A lot of ammunition for a possible criminal case against Sebastian Kurz.
Kurz invited to a background discussion
The wave of defense was not long in coming. Kurz announced on Facebook that the allegations came as “no surprise” to him. Schmid’s statements only aim “not to be punished for one’s own misconduct by accusing others”.
On Wednesday, Kurz invited a group of journalists to a background discussion, where he presented a phone call with Schmid that he recorded in October 2021. According to participants, he read his part himself for illustration; including the sentence: “What sick brain thinks I would have commissioned that in 2016?” Yes, that sounds somewhat absurd. Even more absurd, however, is that his lawyer in the evening in the ZIB2 sat and spoke of a “bomb” in connection with this telephone call, and many media took over this spin.
It wouldn’t be a real political week in Austria if the Federal President didn’t address a few warning words to the people. In his speech on Thursday, Alexander Van der Bellen described corruption as a “paralyzing poison”. The allegations are “massive damage that goes to the substance of our democracy”. The ÖVP does not want to know anything about new elections or other consequences. The current party leader and Chancellor Karl Nehammer tried to calm down: “These are allegations that concern the past.” But then he added: “If they’re right, then that’s not right.”
At the end of the exciting political week, there was less to read in the media about the allegations against Kurz and the ÖVP, but rather the question was raised: “What threatens Thomas Schmid if he is lying?”
So quickly from one excitement to the next, that’s really only possible in Austria. For the good of the republic and the work of the judiciary, let’s hope that Thomas Schmid’s mother not only taught him to admit his mistakes, but also: You shouldn’t lie to save your own skin.
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