A scandal surrounding allegedly fake FFP2 masks is causing a stir in the coronavirus pandemic in Austria.
Because of the South African mutant, Tyrol is still in focus.
The news ticker.
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria
: Tyrol is in focus because of the South African corona mutant.
Allegedly fake FFP2 masks cause a huge scandal in the Alpine republic (first
report from March 5th
).
This
news ticker on the corona crisis * in Austria
is updated regularly.
Munich / Vienna - Once again there is a lot going on in political Vienna: While the planned vaccination alliance between Israel, Denmark and Austria is causing some European partners to frown, allegedly fake FFP2 masks are causing a huge scandal in the Alpine republic.
Even parliament got involved in clearing up the dilemma, and the politically right-wing conservative FPÖ is using the mysterious case for its next attack on Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) - it is the next dispute amid the coronavirus pandemic!
Coronavirus pandemic in Austria: huge scandal over allegedly fake FFP2 masks
That was what happened: According to consistent media reports,
up to 45 illegal
workers were apprehended in a major raid at Austria's largest mask manufacturer,
Hygiene Austria
, who labeled
face masks
made in China under unworthy working conditions as “Made in Austria”.
"If there is fraud here, we have all been betrayed."
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) on the FFP2 mask scandal
According to
Kronen Zeitung,
the
company from Wiener Neudorf in Lower Austria rejected
the allegations, but confirmed the production of the masks in China.
Meanwhile, the public prosecutor for business and corruption is said to have started investigations into suspected human trafficking.
Corona crisis: FFP2 mask scandal in Austria - FPÖ calls for new elections
Meanwhile, the scandal is spreading wide: the right-wing populist FPÖ attacked Prime Minister Kurz and is even calling for new elections for the National Council.
“The federal government shares responsibility,” said FPÖ boss Norbert Hofer, speaking of “large-scale fraud on the taxpayers' backs and at the expense of people's health.
Ironically, the MPs of the ÖVP described the cheat masks in parliament as absolutely essential for survival and wore them demonstratively ”.
Kurz reacted immediately and stated, according to the news portal
krone.at
: "If there is fraud here, we have all been cheated." National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) also announced, according to
oe24.at
, that all legal means should be exhausted should the suspicion arise harden of forgeries.
Spicy: Allegedly, MPs in parliament may really have been wearing fake FFP2 masks from the manufacturer
Hygiene Austria
.
Follow all
developments regarding the corona crisis in Austria here in the news ticker
.
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