After Supreme Court Ruling on Fake Tavern Letters: FPÖ Lower Austria Saves "Tagespresse" Over 60,000 Euros

In February, the Supreme Court (OGH) ruled that the letters sent by the satirical online medium in the name of the FPÖ NÖ were to be considered as "deliberate deception" and as "misleading and unlawful publication." Due to this ruling, the "Tagespresse" faced costs of over 100,000 euros.

After ruling against "Tagespresse": FPÖ NÖ missed deadline

The largest chunk of this - over 60,000 euros - is due to the publication of the judgment in the print editions of the "NÖN" and the "Bezirksblätter." The "Tagespresse" would have had to reimburse the FPÖ NÖ for the advertising costs. However, the FPÖ NÖ let the four-week deadline (until March 6) for the publication of the judgment pass. "Thus, they 'gift' us 62,757 euros," "Tagespresse" chief Fritz Jergitsch told the APA. Because any claims related to a judgment publication are no longer enforceable. So far, there are no bookings from the FPÖ at "NÖN" and "Bezirksblätter."

The FPÖ NÖ responded late in the afternoon with a statement: "Our party logo and our address must not be used without penalty, and citizens must not be deceived. Thus, we have achieved everything in court against 'Die Tagespresse' and have been reimbursed for all costs," said FPÖ state party secretary Alexander Murlasits, satisfied. The trigger for the legal dispute was letters sent in April 2023 in the name and with the logo of the FPÖ to 500 Lower Austrian inns. These letters targeted the "inn premium" promoted by the Freedom Party. They mentioned a newly created "Department for the Promotion of Patriotic Food Culture." As a criterion for assessing whether the establishment was eligible for the inn premium, a "breading quota" and a "red-white-red children's menu" were suggested, which could include an "Andreas Hofer schnitzel" or a "Gabalier meat patty."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.