WKStA: No Initial Suspicion in Procurement of Leonardo Jets
During a review of the initial suspicion regarding the procurement of the Leonardo jets based on two submitted reports, no concrete evidence was found indicating a committed crime, according to the response from Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ) to a parliamentary inquiry.
Greens Suspected Irregularities in Procurement of Leonardo Jets in the Ministry of Defense
Therefore, an investigation procedure was not initiated after the involvement of the specialist supervision, which in turn involved the advisory council. One of the two reports, as well as the parliamentary inquiries to Sporrer and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP), were submitted by the Greens. The Green defense spokesperson David Stögmüller suspected irregularities in the procurement and handed over internal documents from the Ministry of Defense to the WKStA. The Ministry of Defense had rejected the allegations. In her response to the inquiry directed at her, Tanner pointed out that the procurement of the weapon system is still in development at this time, which is why no detailed information on the procurement process is possible. Commissions, brokerage fees, or other payments to third parties related to this, which were charged to the federal government, have not been made, according to the Defense Minister.
ÖVP Demands Apology from the Greens
ÖVP defense spokesperson Friedrich Ofenauer accused the Greens of a "defamation campaign" on Sunday. "The baseless accusations from the Green side turn out to be hot air," Ofenauer stated in a release and demanded a public apology from Stögmüller, who is acting like a "pocket mushroom," to Tanner. The twelve ordered M-346FA jets are being acquired in cooperation with Italy. The two-seater, weapon-capable subsonic jets, which are to replace the training jets Saab 105 decommissioned in 2020, are intended for the training of pilots, support of ground forces, and airspace defense. The first aircraft are expected in Austria between 2027 and 2029.
(APA/Red)
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