Austria’s ambassador to the EU resigned following allegations that he was behind a misogynistic blog under a female pseudonym.
Vienna daily Der Standard reported that foreign office officials confronted Thomas Oberreiter, who has represented the alpine country in Brussels since 2023, with the allegations following a media report. Oberreiter denied the allegations to Der Standard.
Archived pages of the blog include the author, writing under the pseudonym “Caro”, recounting a graphic nightclub sexual assault scene from the woman’s perspective.
Austrian investigative platform “Fass ohne Boden” was first to report that a well-placed national diplomat had been writing a misogynistic blog featuring graphic depictions of rape under a female pseudonym for years.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger was informed of the issue on Saturday, prompting an investigation. “On Monday, the ambassador requested his dismissal for personal reasons,” according to a ministry spokesperson.
A spokesperson for the Austrian EU representation declined to comment on whether Oberreiter remained at his posting. The foreign ministry similarly declined to comment beyond confirming that an ambassador had resigned.
(jp, mk)