An affair between former party leader Jorg Haider and his successor Stefan Petzner, and suspicions of foul play surrounding Haider’s deadly car accident, raise many questions.
Questions About Affair and Crash Linger
After a month that saw significant political gains and the death of their charismatic leader, Austria’s resurgent far right political party has been thrown into disarray after its new head spoke out about his personal relationship with his predecessor, Jorg Haider.
Haider, who was killed in a high-speed car accident earlier this month, was “the man of my life,” said Stefan Petzner, the newly appointed head of the Alliance for the Future of Austria.
Detailing a deeply personal relationship with Haider, Petzner shocked the Austrian far right with an emotional and open interview with a morning radio show.
“We had a relationship that went far beyond friendship. Jorg and I were connected by something truly special,” Petzner said.
“The revelations came after photographs in the Austrian media showing Mr. Haider in a gay bar shortly before his fatal accident,” reported the Independent. Haider reportedly traveled there after an argument with Petzner and had several drinks before leaving alone in his car.
Petzner’s announcement comes just as speculation of foul play surrounding Haider’s death reached a fever pitch, with his wife requesting a second autopsy.
"Mr Haider’s body was abruptly withdrawn from a planned cremation on Saturday," reported the Daily Telegraph. "It said Mrs Haider feared her husband may have been drugged."
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