FPÖ long-time functionary Schimanek continues in party position after Nazi reactivation conviction
Former Langenlois city councillor René Schimanek was sentenced to one year's conditional imprisonment for Nazi reactivation in a final conviction. Despite this, he retains a position with the FPÖ.
FPÖ long-time functionary Schimanek continues in party position after Nazi reactivation conviction
The former city councillor of Langenlois, René Schimanek, was sentenced in March 2026 in a final conviction to one year's conditional imprisonment for Nazi reactivation. Following the verdict, he announced in front of journalists in the Krems courthouse that he would leave the party and resign from his post as city councillor. However, his membership of the FPÖ did not end there.
As early as 2025, Schimanek had left his position as office manager for then FPÖ top candidate Walter Rosenkranz. Since then, however, he has remained employed by the party. Whilst other functionaries lost their positions following the verdict, Schimanek retained his job. The party continues to provide him with a blue-collar position.
The conviction for reactivation also represents an external problem for the FPÖ. Externally, the party distances itself from far-right positions. Yet the continued employment of a man convicted in a final sentence for Nazi glorification contradicts this presentation.
Schimanek was long regarded as a close confidant in FPÖ circles. His case demonstrates how the party handles internal incidents that are publicly perceived as a burden.
Source: Der Standard
Source: Der Standard