After wild accusations

Schilling takes a stand on serious accusations

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

In the middle of the election campaign, Green EU top candidate Lena Schilling is confronted with serious accusations: The 23-year-old signed a declaration to cease and desist from spreading rumors about one of her former best friends. At a press conference arranged at short notice on Wednesday morning, the Greens commented on this - they see an "unrestrained campaign" against the young politician.

The "Standard" reported on the affair on Tuesday evening. Schilling had claimed that one of her friends had been beaten by her husband, so that the woman concerned had even suffered a miscarriage.

She therefore signed a cease-and-desist declaration and undertook to refrain from making several statements in future - see also the post by Schilling's lawyer Maria Windhager on Twitter:

Greens make Schilling the wall
Other private rumors and a dubious relationship to the truth were also addressed in the "Standard" (see below). Following the publication of the allegations, the Greens called a press conference on Wednesday morning. In addition to Schilling, Green Party leader Werner Kogler, deputy federal spokespersons Leonore Gewessler and Stefan Kaineder as well as club leader Sigrid Maurer were present.

Lena Schilling was confronted with accusations that she had spread hurtful rumors - in a press conference she explained this criticism as a "private matter" and did not want to go into more detail.

(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

Schilling explained that her character was being called into question on the basis of rumors and allegations. "What I allegedly said or did has nothing to do with politics," she said. Criticism against her was being taken "to a personal level". "But I won't let this upset me," said Schilling, explaining that she would continue her candidacy. "I want to get things moving. Instead of talking about it, rumors are being spread about my character."

Kogler identifies sexist background
Kogler explained: "We will not be stopped by rumors" and described the accusations as "anonymous farting". He suspected that Schilling was attacked because she is a woman. "It was to be feared that the election campaign would get dirty. And especially when a young and intelligent woman ventures into politics," said the Vice-Chancellor.

Anonymous grumbling and farting.

Vizekanzler Werner Kogler (Grüne)

"At this level and in this dimension", men are not affected by such criticism. He identified "hearsay" behind the accusations and backed the Green EU leadership candidate.

Gewessler identifies "unrestrained campaign"
Gewessler emphasized that she had been warned before entering politics: "Politics is a dirty business" and that many "atrocities" had also happened to her. However, she was shocked by how "unrestrained [...] the campaign" against Schilling was being conducted. "Lena, you are a great woman and you are the right top candidate," said the minister, explaining that she was still convinced by the 23-year-old. 

The accusations come at an extremely unpleasant time for the Greens in the middle of the EU election campaign.

(Bild: APA/Georg Hochmuth)

Schilling: "Worried about girlfriend"
When asked specifically about the allegations, Schilling said: "It makes no sense to participate in further rumors." Instead, she wanted to concentrate on the content. She does not want to comment on private matters because they have no political relevance. When asked again, she explained how the cease-and-desist declaration came about. She was "worried about my girlfriend".

Kogler also explained that they did not want to go into the specific allegations as they did not want to comment on rumors. Maurer spoke of a "smear campaign".

Her party backed the Green EU leadership candidate.

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

For Werner Kogler, the accusations against Schilling are tantamount to flatulence.

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

A very unfavorable picture of Schilling's character was painted in "Standard". Around 50 people close to Schilling had been spoken to. The 23-year-old had "annoyed or hurt many people and even caused some people existentially threatening difficulties", the newspaper stated. A journalist was also affected - the employer investigated the allegations and was unable to prove any misconduct after analyzing chats.

Schilling allegedly invented affairs and harassment
In addition, Schilling had invented a relationship with a TV journalist, who was also accused of further affairs "with other Greens". After careful consideration, the person concerned refrained from filing a lawsuit in order to avoid stirring up more dust.

As has now become known, she was also involved in the resignation of MP Clemens Stammler: The latter had harassed a young activist and injured a journalist during a party at Club U4 in Vienna the previous year. The alleged victim of the harassment was Schilling, who had first invited Stammler to the event but then talked badly about him. Her alcoholic party colleague then became violent.