Hot debate on the net

NEOS: Schellhorn joins left-wing Pilz medium

Pretty best friends: NEOS MP Sepp Schellhorn joins former politician Peter Pilz's online medium.(Bild: APA, Screenshot/Zackzack, Krone KREATIV)

"Zackzack.at", the left-wing online medium of former politician Peter Pilz, has gained a prominent new member. NEOS returnee Sepp Schellhorn has joined the portal. The question of compatibility is causing discussion.

Schellhorn spoke to Der Standard about a "symbolic participation", which only amounted to two percent. It is "important to him that social media platforms such as 'Zackzack' exist and that they become more widespread". The question of compatibility (holding shares in a medium as a politician) was not raised. 

It remains to be seen whether Schellhorn's involvement will have an impact on future "Zackzack.at" reporting. In any case, Schellhorn's new shareholding is already being hotly debated on X. 

According to the company entry, "Zackzack.at" - the platform emerged from the Pilz parliamentary list - has existed since May 2020. Funds from the party academy flowed into the founding of the medium after the list around former Green Peter Pilz left the party.

Financial problems 
It is no secret that the portal - which primarily serves the left-wing fringe - is not financially secure. The starting capital of 1.2 million was quickly used up, and last summer almost the entire editorial team had to be laid off. A complete shutdown was on the cards, but donations have kept the medium alive to date.

Education association holds majority of shares
There are now also some small shareholders. In addition to Schellhorn, shares are held by scientists such as biochemist Renée Schröder and computer scientist Hannes Werthner. The new shareholders each hold between one and five percent of Zack Media GmbH. Bildungsverein Offene Gesellschaft still holds the majority (50 percent) of the shares. Pilz himself is the second largest shareholder with 26 percent.

After the political developments as an entrepreneur and as a political person, I simply couldn't hold on any longer. Things need to be tidied up.

Schellhorn zu seiner Rückkehr in die Politik

Schellhorn officially returned to the political arena in January after two and a half years. At the end of February, he took over the National Council mandate from Julia Seidl, who had previously announced her withdrawal as she wants to concentrate on the Innsbruck municipal elections, where she will run as the pink top candidate. Schellhorn was a NEOS member of the National Council until 2021.

"After the political developments as an entrepreneur and as a political person, I simply couldn't hold on any longer. Things need to be tidied up," Schellhorn explained his return at the time.