ÖAAB re-elects Wöginger with almost 96% of the vote

August Wöginger’s first-instance conviction in the Braunau tax office case did not weaken his standing within the ÖVP’s workers’ organization. Delegates at the ÖAAB federal conference in Haag re-elected him chairman with 95.9% of the vote.

Wöginger has led the ÖAAB, the Austrian People’s Party’s workers’ association, since 2016. He stepped down as the party’s parliamentary group leader in May after receiving a first-instance sentence of seven months in prison, suspended, for inciting abuse of office. He appealed the ruling but retained his ÖAAB chairmanship and his role as social affairs spokesman.

In his speech, Wöginger focused much of his attack on the FPÖ and its links to the Identitarian movement. He cited terms such as “Aryan bones” and “skull measurements” as expressions from Austria’s darkest history, saying the ÖAAB and the People’s Party had to make clear that they rejected them.

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Because I do not want a self-appointed people’s chancellor in Austria.

“Because I do not want a self-appointed people’s chancellor in Austria,” Wöginger said. The conference motto, “Gu(s)t for the future,” played on his nickname and reflected the organization’s backing. He said the ÖAAB stood for all those “who carry our country every day,” arguing that performance creates prosperity, prosperity creates social security, and social security creates cohesion.

Several government figures attended the conference, including Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Minister for the Chancellery Claudia Bauer. Wöginger’s deputies received even stronger backing, with each of five deputy candidates winning more than 99% and Bundesrat member Günther Ruprecht receiving more than 98%.

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who carry our country every day