“It is an unprecedented attack on the fourth violence in our country that Neos State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn is said to have put independent media representatives under the day of press freedom,” FPÖ general secretary and media spokesman NABG showed. Christian Hafenecker outraged. “If a member of the government tries to punish critical reporting with the withdrawal of advertising, then this is not only morally reprehensible, but also smells of an advertisement corruption – a case for the judiciary!”
According to a report by Exxtra24.at, Schellhorn is said to have called a journalist and threatened him with the withdrawal of advertising cooperations after he had critically reported an Audi A8 about the change of his company car. “This procedure is reminiscent of authoritarian systems in which media freedom is broken with feet. In a democracy, such behavior is unacceptable and must not remain without consequences,” continues Hafenecker.
The FPÖ media spokesman therefore not only called for the immediate resignation of Neos State Secretary Schellhorn, but also a comprehensive investigation by the judiciary: “It must be checked whether the attempt was made here to have an impact on the reporting.
In addition, Hafenecker directed an appeal to Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger: “If the NEOs are serious about freedom of the press, then they have to act and clearly distance themselves from Schellhorn’s behavior. A simple ‘Keep it up’ must not exist.”
Finally, FPÖ media spokesman NABG. Christian Hafenecker: “The freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy. Anyone who attacks it attacks democracy itself. We will not allow such an attempts to go into school.”
OTS original text press release with the exclusive in terms of content of the sender – www.ots.at | FPK