Does he have to resign?

Resignation? Dornauer is not throwing in the towel

Tyrol's SPÖ leader Georg Dornauer is under fire in the media after his hunting picture with René Benko.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/zVg, Krone KREATIV, Christof Birbaumer)

An illustrious red deer hunt with real estate juggler René Benko in Styria could have fatal consequences for Tyrol's SPÖ leader Georg Dornauer. As confirmed to the "Krone" by party circles, the head of the province is shaking badly and the public prosecutor's office in Graz is now examining whether an investigation into poaching should be initiated. One thing is certain: Dornauer himself will not be throwing in the towel - but an allegedly aspired ministerial office will no longer be an option.

A "Krone" article brings Tyrol's regional party leader Georg Dornauer under fire in the media. Tyrol's SPÖ leader Georg Dornauer claims to have been on the prowl in Styria with "someone else's hat" and real estate juggler René Benko. Despite his proud pose and the "Beutebruch" hat on his head, Dornauer famously claims not to have shot the game himself.

Dornauer fears for his job
As reported, a weapons ban was imposed on him in 2019 after he left his hunting weapon in his car with the window open at Innsbruck airport. He only applied to have the ban lifted last week. Now, however, the SPÖ provincial leader must fear for his job for the time being.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/zVg, Krone KREATIV, Christof Birbaumer)

As the "Krone" found out from the SPÖ headquarters in Vienna's Löwelstraße, Dornauer is "very much in doubt". An allegedly aspired ministerial post (presumably defense) is no longer an issue. The leadership of negotiations in the area of security in the exploratory talks with the ÖVP, which Dornauer also aspired to, is now said to be "no longer justifiable".

One thing is certain: Dornauer will not be resigning himself. The Tyrolean ruled out a resignation in an interview with the "Krone" newspaper. The SPÖ club also met in Tyrol at 1 pm. The meeting had been scheduled for some time. It remains to be seen whether Dornauer's back will be strengthened there, as well as the reaction of the federal party leaders in Vienna. 

Tyrol's ÖVP state governor Anton Mattle, who has always remained silent about previous political antics surrounding Dornauer, has also summoned Dornauer to a meeting and intends to make a statement on Monday. According to reports, however, Mattle will not insist on Dornauer's resignation.

There has already been clear criticism from the Innsbruck SPÖ. Deputy Mayor Elisabeth Mayr said: "For me, the measure is full." She was "not sure whether he can still hold on." Benko had defrauded the population and Austria "of so much that I, as a Social Democrat, must be clear that I can neither stroll nor stalk with such a mindset", Mayr made clear. 

Tyrolean NEOS demand immediate resignation
The Tyrolean NEOS state spokesperson Dominik Oberhofer called for the Tyrolean SPÖ leader to resign immediately. "This misstep has now finally broken the camel's back," said the former Tyrolean club leader and now member of the National Council.

Dornauer had lost his last sense of honesty and decency. Barbara Neßler, a member of the Tyrolean Green Party in the National Council, believed that there had been a "clear breach of the law" if it had been a hunt with an existing weapons ban. "It is time for Dornauer to finally provide clarity - without excuses," wrote Neßler via X (formerly Twitter).

Tyrolean Green Party leader Gebi Mair takes the same line and raises the following unanswered questions: "Firstly: Did Georg Dornauer carry a weapon on the hunting trip and kill the stag? Secondly, according to Styrian hunting law, is he even allowed to take part in a stalk without a hunting license? Thirdly, who is the leaseholder who invited him to the stalk? And fourthly: Did Georg Dornauer have himself invited to this hunt by René Benko or someone else?" Mair expected answers from Georg Dornauer immediately. "And they must not be that only his hat was at the hunt, but not Georg Dornauer himself." 

"Not a trivial offense and not a trifle"
Liste Fritz club leader Markus Sint was "shocked" that the deputy governor "finds nothing wrong with going hunting with the billionaire bankrupt Benko." After all, he had "caused many employees and entrepreneurs financial hardship or even lost their livelihoods". In addition, Dornauer is subject to an "upright weapons ban". He must now clarify whether he himself fired: "This is not a trivial offense and not a trifle."

With all due respect, but Schorsch, it's over.

Markus Abwerzger, FPÖ-Landesparteichef in Tirol

FPÖ provincial party leader Markus Abwerzger is also "shocked". It is known that Dornauer doesn't miss a single slip of the tongue, but this will probably be his last. "To go hunting with someone who has destroyed economic livelihoods - with an upright weapons ban - is the lowest point," explains the Freedom Party member.

Of course, the busy party rebel Rudi Fußi has also already spoken out via X. He demanded "clear words" from his rival for the SPÖ chairmanship, Andreas Babler.