No longer sober?

“Papi”: Tyrol’s SPÖ leader with bizarre ORF appearance

ORF satirist Peter Klien paid a visit to the traditional Gauder Festival in Tyrol. The interview with Tyrolean SPÖ leader Georg Dornauer (pictured) stood out in particular.

(Bild: Screenshot/PeterKlien/TikTok)

Georg Dornauer, Tyrol's deputy governor and SPÖ state leader, is causing a debate on social media after a bizarre appearance. In an ORF interview, he described himself as the "only politician relevant to the federal government" and as a "daddy". 

What had happened? Just under a week ago, Dornauer - like many other politicians - visited the Gauder Fest in Zillertal. 

Excerpt from Dornauer's appearance in the video below: 

ORF satirist Peter Klien was also present and asked Dornauer to stand in front of the microphone. "Nobody from the Social Democrats is here today, is that right?" Klien asked the SPÖ politician. "Yes, because the only politician relevant to the federal government is here," Dornauer countered with a grin. When Klien wanted to know who that was, Dornauer pointed to himself. 

"The dad is one of them!"
"But you don't consider yourself a member of the Social Democrats, do you?" Klien asked Dornauer. The red politician, who has often sharply criticized his own federal party in the past, responded: "Of course, hello! The dad is part of it!"

No longer completely sober?
Dornauer's appearance is hotly debated on social media. Some users are outraged, some take it with humor. His critics accuse him of not being completely sober during the interview. 

Dornauer denies it
Dornauer's office said on Saturday evening that the SPÖ politician had merely responded "whimsically and satirically to satirical questions from ORF". He was "certainly not" drunk. 

Red rebel
Dornauer has been known as a red rebel as far away as Vienna for years. His politically explosive liaison and criticism of SPÖ federal party leader Andreas Babler were not the only reasons he caused a stir in the past.