Neos Co-Founder Expelled, Accuses Party Leadership of Authoritarianism

Veit Dengler, a co-founder of the Austrian liberal party Neos, has been expelled from the party and its parliamentary club following a dispute over his voting intentions during coalition negotiations. Dengler, who remains a member of the National Council, has launched a scathing critique of the Neos leadership, describing them as an "out-of-touch Viennese bubble" that has lost its liberal identity.

Dengler's expulsion followed his intention to vote against a portion of the double budget concerning party funding, which he deemed excessively high. He announced this intention without prior consultation with the party leadership. In response, an extraordinary general assembly of the Neos parliamentary club was convened, leading to his removal from both the club and the party.

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The Neos have nothing to do with a liberal party anymore.

The Neos stated that an incident during a confidential meeting had irrevocably destroyed the trust of his colleagues, making further cooperation impossible. However, Dengler countered that the party leadership, particularly leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger, operates with an "authoritarian attitude" and that a "compliant clique" around her dictates the party's direction. He recounted an instance where Meinl-Reisinger admonished him for taking detailed notes during coalition talks.

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An 'obedient' clique around Meinl-Reisinger sets the tone.

The expulsion has ignited broader political debate. Michael Schnedlitz, the general secretary of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), criticized the Neos' actions as a "final self-exposure" and accused them of abandoning their liberal image. He suggested the Neos are heading towards "political oblivion," a fate he likened to that of Germany's FDP party.

Dengler, who previously served as the Neos' foreign policy spokesperson before being reassigned, intends to continue as an independent member of the National Council. His ousting marks another significant departure from the party, following Gerald Loacker and Stephanie Krisper, raising questions about the Neos' internal dynamics and their commitment to the principles they once championed.

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The mask of liberality has finally fallen!