Fake account triggers a moment of mourning: Austria politicians pause for the ex-chancellor who was believed to be dead

Created: 11/29/2022, 9:35 p.m

By: Andreas Schmid

There was a minute's silence in the social committee in Austria - nobody died.

(Iconic image) © IMAGO / GEPA pictures

In Austria, politicians mourn the death of an ex-chancellor.

In fact, he didn't die at all.

A fake account caused the dismay.

Vienna – Macabre scene in the Social Affairs Committee of the Austrian Parliament: The SPÖ faction asked for a minute of mourning for the apparently deceased ex-Chancellor Franz Vranitzky.

The social democrat died at the age of 85.

Shortly after the minute of mourning it was clear: Vranitzky is alive.

The report about the death of the former Chancellor was a fake.

Fake account triggers a moment of mourning: Italians probably responsible

The SPÖ politician Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek fell victim to a fake account on Twitter, which spread false reports about Vranitzky's death.

This is reported by the Austrian newspaper

.

The fake news was posted by a Twitter account claiming to belong to conservative Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig.

In fact, the Italian Tommaso Debenedetti is probably behind the fake tweet.

He had announced the death of prominent people in the past.

Some media were also fooled by his false claims.

From 1986 to 1997 Chancellor of Austria: Franz Vranitzky.

© Hans Punz/APA/dpa

The SPÖ faction quickly noticed the macabre faux pass.

Heinisch-Hosek apologized during the meeting and explained that he had been taken in by a fake account.

Vranitzky was Chancellor of Austria from 1986 to 1997 and head of the Austrian Social Democratic Party for nine years.