Next ad about the FPÖ financial scandal. This time it hits KFG club boss Alexis Pascuttini, who just this week testified before the “Red-Blue Abuse of Power” U-Committee in Parliament. The ad is about a recording of a nighttime (argument) conversation between him and three other KFG members and Matthias Eder.
Eder is a key figure in the financial scandal. In a voluntary disclosure in November 2021, he accepted all guilt and deposited 700,000 euros as compensation for damages to the public prosecutor’s office. In a conversation at night, he partially contradicted the self-report: “Of course I wasn’t alone! How am I supposed to have raised 700,000 euros alone? “Who believes that?” he shouts.
Sharing of tape recordings is not permitted
A transcript of the tape recordings was sent to the public prosecutor’s office, and several media outlets, including the Kleine Zeitung, reported on it. After a complaint, the Klagenfurt public prosecutor’s office, which is responsible for the financial case, is now investigating “misuse of sound recordings and recording devices”. Legally, secret tape recordings may not be presented to third parties, but copies of tape recordings may actually be. That’s why the then Chancellor Sebastian Kurz did not play a recording of a telephone conversation between himself and Thomas Schmid to press representatives, but rather read a copy.
City party manager Dominik Hausjell is celebrating for the FPÖ. “Due to his legal training, the ‘hobby prosecutor’ should be sufficiently informed that such recordings, which are often shown in crime films, are not permitted in this country,” he says. “Pascuttini should finally let the authorities do their work and stop his Hollywood affectations. We’re not in a blockbuster, but he’s apparently in the wrong film.”
Pascuttini himself appears calm and even “amused”: “I am relaxed about the new complaint because I have done nothing wrong!” He sees the complaint as “another attempt to silence me.” And: “Non-lawyer Hausjell should inform himself before claiming untruths.” Because “merely recording your own conversations” is not a punishable offense.