Austrian Politician Steps Aside After Row Over Hunting Trip

Fallen Austrian real estate tycoon Rene Benko — whose Signa empire toppled over the largest insolvency proceedings in the Alpine country’s history — was one of the men pictured with Dornauer.

In a bid to quell the backlash, Dornauer told reporters at party headquarters Wednesday that he would “not step down” but “step aside”, making way for a successor.

He said he regretted the “unfavourable optics”, while stressing that “no laws were broken” during the hunting trip that Benko had attended.

“No damage occurred, I merely accompanied a friend on a hunting trip,” he said, adding that he saw no “reason to resign” despite calls from fellow party members.

Earlier this week, Dornauer claimed he had not shot the deer even though he was pictured grabbing the game’s antlers, while a freshly broken off twig adorned his hat — a tradition that usually identifies the successful huntsman.

He insisted the loden green headwear he was donning in the photo was “not my hat”, saying he had just borrowed it from the actual hunter, a hotel keeper.

Dornauer received a weapons ban in 2019 after he left his loaded hunting rifle unattended in his Porsche, with its windows wide open.

The resignation marks the latest scandal to hit the SPOe, which has struggled to turn its fortunes around after years of infighting.

But the party, which dominated Austria’s post-war politics, could yet find itself in government following years in opposition.

The party joined exploratory talks to form a government coalition after coming third in September elections.