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The Alois Mock Institute was once again a topic on the U-Committee. That was a surprise.
Vienna When Walter Grubmüller was invited to the Ibiza Investigation Committee for Thursday at 9 am, his role was clear, at least for most of the deputies. The owner of the private clinic in Währing should appear as a villain. As living proof that presumably the rich in Austria can buy laws. When he left the committee room about four hours later, his role was no longer so clear. The deputies had heard an informative person willing to speak and surprising statements.
The history
Grubmüller (as the former vice-chancellor and head of the FPÖ, Heinz-Christian Strache) is listed as a suspect in the corporate and corruption prosecution service. The question that arises is: Has Grubmüller achieved a change in the law through cash flows to Strache or the FPÖ that benefited his private clinic? Both men reject the accusations, the presumption of innocence is applied.
For years, Grubmüller has been demanding that his private clinic be included in Prikraf, the fund for financing private institutions. This is a fund for private hospitals. If they provide certain medical services to those with mandatory insurance, they can claim the costs. However, to do this, they must appear on a legally established list. Grubmüller contacted Strache by SMS about a change in the law, which was implemented in 2018. Grubmüller had previously donated 10,000 euros to the FPÖ.
The connection with the FPÖ
On Thursday, Grubmüller said that he deliberately chose the amount of the donation: to be reported to the audit office and to appear. You have already donated to all parties (except ÖVP). I did not expect any of that. At the same time, however, Grubmüller emphasizes how impressed he was by Strache’s efforts. There was also a joint flight to Corfu (Strache paid his share, according to Grubmüller). They spent four days at Grubmüller’s house.
The connection with the ÖVP
The real surprise came when Grubmüller mentioned the ÖVP and the Alois Mock Institute. As a reminder: it is already known that there were also ÖVP donors who received benefits from the change in the law in the Prikraf. The money pot kept filling up. No one had to fear that Grubmüller would receive less funding. Grubmüller himself did not benefit at all, he said. Because at that time it was also resolved that a direct clearing account was necessary to obtain the funds. According to the files, this was also a problem in a meeting between Grubmüller’s lawyer and representatives of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund and the president of the branch of the Chamber of Commerce. Grubmüller will only get such an account if the Tyrolean Medalp is also included in the Prikraf. According to Nina Tomaselli de los Verdes, “The Tyrolean Medalp is one of the most important players in the Eagle Round Zipline and a good friend of the Tyrolean governor Günther Platter” of the ÖVP.
The Alois Mock Institute
The President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), was represented in his role as chair of the committee. Anyway, the subject was Sobotka, as president of the Alois Mock Institute. Grubmüller said he had paid a lobbyist (and former Alois Mock spokesman) from around the ÖVP up to € 40,000 to help him with the Prikraf case. That was unsuccessful, but the man presented him with a list of associations that Grubmüller should donate to. One of them: the Alois Mock Institute. “It’s easier if you lubricate,” said the man. Sobotka distanced himself from the lobbyist (now deceased). He never held a position at the Mock Institute.
(“Die Presse”, print edition, October 9, 2020)
