Conflict with wife

Mayor as a threat: ÖVP examines the case

The angry mayor had raised his hand against his wife and threatened to strike.

(Bild: doidam10 - stock.adobe.com)

In a dispute with his wife, a mayor (ÖVP) in Burgenland threatened to become violent. The police imposed a "house ban" on him to prevent an escalation. The man concerned now has to be looked after by specialists in violence prevention. The People's Party is investigating internally.

As reported, the sensational incident took place in public at Easter. In a pub in his home town, the mayor had raised his hand threateningly at his wife in front of witnesses during an argument. Before the man could have struck, a guest had intervened, according to the statements of concerned observers. The police had to intervene after an emergency call and a ban on entering and approaching was issued. The local politician (ÖVP) is not allowed to go home for the next 14 days.

Concerned reactions
The case promptly triggered heated debates. "Violence is not a solution and cannot be tolerated. There is nothing to gloss over," the Burgenland People's Party said in an initial statement to the "Krone" newspaper. "We take the incident very seriously and have already begun an internal investigation," it added.

To protect the victims
"There is violence in the private sphere at all levels of society. It is important to react in every case," emphasizes Alexander Grohs, head of the Neustart association, which looks after more than 300 people at risk in Burgenland every year. As prescribed, the mayor must undergo mandatory violence prevention counseling in the foreseeable future. "In any case, we take a close look at the individual background during these six hours so that violence doesn't happen again in the future," explains the Neustart manager.

Violence has many faces
Violence is not always associated with blows, but can also be carried out with words, as the bitter reality of many examples drastically demonstrates. "Psychological pressure can have nasty consequences that are often almost unimaginable," Grohs knows from his professional experience. That is why it is particularly important that "we as a society are sensitized to this problem and act sensibly when we see signs of violence in public spaces".

Neustart manager Alexander Grohs in a confidential conversation with a person at risk who is receiving advice on violence prevention.

(Bild: Neustart, Krone KREATIV)

For around a third of so-called dangerous individuals, the issuing of an entry and approach ban is not linked to criminal charges or measures under criminal law. "First and foremost, it's about protecting the victim and preventing worse things from happening," says Grohs. It remains to be seen what will happen politically in the case of the head of the village.