New investigations

FPÖ financial scandal draws ever wider circles

Eustacchio with FPÖ leader Mario Kunasek (right).

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

The public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt has been investigating the FPÖ financial scandal in Graz since 2021. The files are hundreds of pages thick, and it is difficult to keep an overview due to the convoluted stories and accusations. We explain what it is essentially about.

What is the Styrian FPÖ financial scandal about?

The main focus is on the old FPÖ leadership in Graz around former deputy mayor Mario Eustacchio. Police investigators are currently trying to find out whether party funds, which naturally come from taxpayers' money, have been misused. A total of 1.8 million euros is alleged to have been misappropriated between 2014 and 2021, although some of the evidence is missing. There were also repeated withdrawals of cash amounts of up to 50,000 euros. The storylines are more complex, however, and the provincial Freedom Party is also allegedly involved in the case.

How did the investigation get rolling?

Matthias Eder, the former Graz club director of the FPÖ, filed a voluntary disclosure. Shortly before, on October 31, 2021, the party leadership in Graz had resigned. The list of suspects has since grown considerably. Both minor functionaries and core figures are under suspicion. The range of offenses extends from misuse of funding to fraud, suppression of evidence, National Socialist reactivation and false testimony. In one case, an ex-municipal councillor is even suspected of possessing child pornography, which the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt is currently investigating, as confirmed by the "Krone" newspaper. All those involved, with the exception of the former club director, deny any guilt. The presumption of innocence applies to all of them.

Despite everything, Mario Eustacchio is returning to politics. How is that possible?

Investigations do not rule out political activities. Eustacchio himself resigned from the party and is now returning to the Graz municipal council as a wild mandatary. He got the mandate because former local councillor Roland Lohr resigned.

What incriminating material is available?

Among other things, an expert opinion from a financial expert who certifies that a second person was definitely necessary for the financial flows. He also assumes that large sums of money were used for private purposes. 

What is the story behind the house being built by party leader Mario Kunasek?

Kunasek is said to have commissioned Gerald Deutschmann, the 3rd President of the Styrian Parliament and architect, with the planning. It was investigated whether Kunasek had partly financed the construction of the house with party funds. The senior public prosecutor's office in Graz will decide whether charges will be brought or the investigation dropped. A corresponding preliminary report from the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt is on the table and awaiting a decision. 

What is the current status of the investigation?

There are no charges yet. Instead, however, there are further accusations against Mario Kunasek and now also provincial party secretary Stefan Hermann: the public prosecutor's office is seeking their extradition. The reason is a complaint from former FPÖ member, now KFG club leader Alexis Pascuttini. He had been put under pressure by Kunasek and Hermann to end his investigative work on the case.

How is the FPÖ reacting to the latest allegations?

It senses a scandal and rejects all accusations - right from the start. The party reacted indignantly to the latest extradition request and sensed a "smear campaign": "The mere fact that the incident is said to have taken place two years ago and is only now being reported shows that the allegations are complete nonsense and that an attempt is being made here to use criminal law to play politics in an election campaign year."