IMAGE: Ronald Zak / AP
Austria’s vice chancellor has resigned after footage allegedly showing his coversation with ‘Russia-linked’ persons was published online this week. The released video allegedly shows him offering German contracts to an alleged Russian benefactor in return for ‘Russian investitions and support’.
At a news conference, Heinz-Christian Strache stressed he was set up illegally, and claimed the publication was a “political assassination”. At the same time, he described his behaviour in the video as “stupid, irresponsible and a mistake”.
The concerned video, filmed in 2016, allegedly showed Mr Strache offering government contracts to a woman from Russia. Thsi woman, Alena Makarova, claimed she was a niece of some Russian oligarch and was supposedly interested in investing large amounts of money in Austria.
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The video showed Mr Strache and his party colleague Johann Gudenus telling the woman she would get big construction contracts, in return for buying Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung and supporting the Freedom Party. Additionally, Mr Strache suggested ways of funnelling money to his party through an unconnected foundation that would get around Austria’s political donation rules.
Besied this, Mr Strache said that he acted “boastfully as a teenager” and had a macho attitude therefore hurting “the most important person” his life – his. He stated that this development was a provication but apologized for these actions.
Some mainstream media outlets described the alleged discussion regarding the buying Kronen Zeitung as a sign of “Russian influence” in Europe. However, if, theoretically, some Russians would buy a part of the newspaper via intermediaries, this would not allow them to influence the editorial policy of the outlet. The filmed woman, Alena Makarova, claimed that she was a niece of some Russian oligarch but no evidence or any factors confirming these claims were provided.
The behaviour of the “Russian representatives” looks like a low-cost performance. The key fact, which provided video may conflirm, is that Mr Strache is not a professional and has not enough skills, including negotiating ones, to be the vice chancellor of Austria.
Strache always has been a fool. It hurts to watch this muppet talk
Entrapment. Who benefits?
Anytime dirty tricks are employed you can usually find one of (((them))) pulling the strings.
Hahahaha and this guy was talking about core values.
Southfront, this has nothing to do with Russia whatsoever, this “Alena Makarova” is not even russian. Classic setup by his political enemies. I can’t believe he was so naive/stupid/drunk….
Filmed three years ago, nobody was in a hurry to sideline him.
May have something to do with Austria’s defense of Nordstream2; new elections could oust current Government and the US installs a US friendly puppet government.
Good point.
He might have been paying them all this time to keep quiet.
Typical Mossad methods- blackmail, bribery and, if that doesn’t work… a car “accident”.
The mossad have nothing to gain from removing him. He was fully behind the Christian vs Muslim narrative that they are pushing for.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6rg_Haider: Haider was closely watched by Mossad, the Israeli secret service; FPÖ secretary general Peter Sichrovsky – a Jewish-Austrian politician and formerly one of Haider’s closest aides – had gathered inside information on Haider’s controversial contacts with prominent “Arab dictators”.[49]
Due to Haider’s perceived contacts to Holocaust deniers, the Israeli Foreign Ministry on 29 September 2008 declared it was heavily concerned about the 2008 Austrian elections;[50] a spokesman of the ministry said that Israeli officials were “very worried about the rise to power of people who promote hatred, Holocaust denial, and befriend Neo-Nazis. We see it as a disturbing development and are following the matter very closely.”[51]
Strache’s predecessor, Haider, was also cast in the same mould… and it worried Mossad.
Sure Biden did a lot worse (yes, he who is running for President in 2020), when he was Obama’s Vice President of the US.
He never resigned and the US never demanded a general election, for his activities.