Stefan Petzner
Stefan Petzner (born 17 January 1981 in Lassnitz near Murau, Styria) is an Austrian politician. He is a member of the economical right Alliance for the Future of Austria (Bündnis Zukunft Österreich, BZÖ). Petzner is a former reporter(of the styrian Kleine Zeitung)[1] and a student of journalism.
In June 2006 Petzner and Martin Strutz were jointly appointed secretaries general of the BZÖ. Petzner directed the election campaigns in 2006 and 2008. [2]
[edit] Jörg Haider
After Jörg Haider's death in a car accident on 11 October 2008, the party's executive committee nominated Petzner to succeed as party chairman.[3] In an interview on the same day Petzner declared in tears that Jörg Haider was his "Lebensmensch", i.e. the "person of his life".[4]
On 19 October 2008, Petzner announced that he and Haider had been having "a relationship that went far beyond friendship" with the full knowledge of Haider's wife, Claudia.[5] The Associated Press reported Petzner's comments as "Jörg and I were connected by something truly special. He was the man of my life ... I loved him as a best friend."[6] The article was titled: Was Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider gay? Euronews ran the headline "Rumours of Joerg Haider’s secret gay life." Other reports had that “some say” Haider had died “after a furious row with the man who now claims to have been his lover.”[7]
Petzner's statements were criticized within the party as misleading and fit to be interpreted as insinuating a homosexual relationship between Haider and Petzner. His party's officials made a rushed attempt to limit the damage for the image of their far-Right group and banned several other interviews that were to have occurred that week.[8]
[edit] BZÖ
From 12 October to 19 November 2008 he served as acting party chairman but was succeeded by Herbert Scheibner. Petzner concentrated on directing the party's election campaign in the State of Carinthia where, in March 2009, the party won a near-landslide victory taking over 45% of the vote.
As the party's designated leader, Petzner was also expected to be elected Klubobmann, i.e. chairman of the party's parliamentary group, but on 22 October 2008, Josef Bucher was elected instead, with Petzner becoming one of the five vice chairmen. Petzner himself was reported to have suggested Bucher, who was elected unanimously. Bucher's election was widely interpreted as the result of the rising criticism of Petzner's earlier statements.
When on 30 January 2010, after the secession of the majority of party officials and members from the Carinthian party, Bucher was elected Chairman of the newly formed Carinthian BZÖ, Petzner was unanimously elected Acting Chairman (the position Jörg Haider had held from 2005 till his death).[9]
On 8 April 2010 Petzner announced his resignation as Secretary General of the nationwide BZÖ. His simultaneous position as Acting Chairman of the Carinthian BZÖ, where after the break-away of the FPK - "The Freedomites in Carinthia" - a great deal of work was to be done, would require his full concentration. Only a week earlier he had disclaimed any such rumours as "attempts from a third party to disturb the Easter peace."[10]
[edit] References
- ^ 14 August. 2011
- ^ Kleine Zeitung.at, 12 Aug. 2008 Strutz und Petzner: Ihre Karriere
- ^ Haider 'was double speed limit'; BBC News, 12 Oct. 2008
- ^ "Petzner admits speeding", Austrian Independent. March 28, 2011. Accessed April 17, 2011
- ^ Jorg Haider successor tells of their 'relationship'; The Daily Telegraph 22 Oct. 2008
- ^ article by William J. Kole, Associated Press, – Fri Oct 24, 7:31 am
- ^ Euronews, 23 Oct. 2008
- ^ The Daily Telegraph 22 Oct. 2008
- ^ ots.at press release, 30 Jan. 2010: Petzner einstimmig zum geschäftsführenden Obmann gewählt.
- ^ Die Presse.com, 8 April 2010
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jörg Haider |
BZÖ Party Chairman (acting) 2008 |
Succeeded by Herbert Scheibner (acting) |
| Preceded by position created |
Carinthian BZÖ Party Chairman (acting) since 30 January, 2010 |
Succeeded by --- |
