Georg Dornauer Challenges SPÖ Expulsion in National Arbitration Court

Georg Dornauer, former chair of the Tyrolean branch of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and former deputy governor, has initiated formal proceedings to contest his recent expulsion from the party. Dornauer has requested that the federal arbitration court review the decision, emphasizing his belief in the fairness and impartiality of the national process.

Currently serving as an independent member of the Tyrolean state parliament, Dornauer has approached the regional party leadership to propose that the federal executive committee oversee the arbitration process. He argues that the matter's significance and unique circumstances warrant consideration at the highest organizational level. According to Dornauer, the regional party board, which enforced the expulsion, lacked the necessary jurisdiction and impartiality due to the involvement of individuals directly engaged in recent internal disputes. He points to the participation of the Tyrolean SPÖ chair, the parliamentary group leader, and other regional lawmakers, all of whom, he claims, were involved in prior disagreements within the parliamentary faction.

Dornauer also notes that his election to the federal executive committee by a substantial majority at the party's national congress adds complexity to the situation. He contends that the decision on his continued membership in the federal executive body should not be determined by a regional authority, as this exceeds their mandate.

Procedural Pathways and National Involvement

The party's statutes, specifically Section 83(2), outline that only the national party leadership can assume jurisdiction over expulsion cases initiated by regional bodies if the situation's gravity or special nature requires it. This transfer of jurisdiction would necessitate a majority vote within the federal executive committee. Furthermore, should Dornauer's expulsion be upheld by the regional arbitration court, he retains the right to appeal the decision before the national executive committee, with a potential final review at the party congress if necessary.

Disagreement Over Grounds for Expulsion

Dornauer has expressed dissatisfaction with the grounds cited for his exclusion, stating that the official resolution fails to specify any concrete misconduct. He maintains that his recent parliamentary motion, which proposed allocating excess profits from the state-owned energy provider Tiwag to the region for child care funding, neither violated the governing coalition's agreement nor damaged the SPÖ's reputation. Dornauer argues that it is not unusual for legislators to vote independently based on conscience, and such actions are typically tolerated within parliamentary practice. He underscores his decision to act independently, citing the freedom of mandate, which he believes should take precedence over strict coalition discipline when ethical considerations are involved.

Background of Internal Party Disputes

Dornauer's expulsion follows a prolonged period of internal conflict within the Tyrolean SPÖ. Having stepped down from his leadership roles in late 2023 after controversy surrounding a hunting excursion with a prominent business figure, Dornauer continued to experience public disagreements with party leadership. Tensions escalated after he independently introduced the Tiwag proposal without the support of his SPÖ colleagues or the coalition partner, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The SPÖ leadership subsequently labeled his actions as a breach of coalition protocol, resulting in his removal from both the parliamentary group and the party itself.