Ilhaveia Tribune 3/3/24

ILHAVEIA TRIBUNE
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FORMER PRESIDENT AUNDERBRAU INDICTED IN BRIBES CASE

The Lutharian Federal Appeals court has confirmed the indictment of ex-president Stephan Aunderbrau in a case linking the former liberal party president to the payment of bribes at the Senate in 2000 and which ended with a major political crisis. The Appeals court confirmed a ruling of a Federal Magistrate who held Aunderbrau responsible for the payment of bribes to lawmakers in return for passing the controversial “Labour Flexibilization Law” in April 2000, which was openly opposed by Lutharia's strong trade union confederation. Allegedly the bill was part of a package of reforms demanded by the CTO. That law loosened restrictions in the labour market in a move to improve the flexibility of the market amid a sharp economic contraction in Lutharia. The decision of the Federal Court clears the way for the start of the trial against the ex-president.

The ruling described the bribes' scandal as “an action of the government led by Aunderbrau as a president,” who resigned to his post in 2002 amid a deepening economic and political crisis. 16 former senators have been prosecuted for allegedly accepting bribes.

The “Senate Scandal” came to the public eye after Mauren Rendeau, an advisor at the Upper House of Congress reported the incident to the judiciary and unveiled details on the bribes paid to senators during the 1999-2002 administration. Rendeau said during an interview last week that he was disappointed over the lack of advances in the case, and told reporters that he had considered killing himself.

The “Senate scandal” led to the resignation of Vice-president Cheron Annlen in October 2000, signalling the beginning of the end of the ruling coalition. In effect a year later unable to address mounting problems and without political support Aunderbrau resigned to the presidency. Baldur Hirschl was elected following his resignation.

President Casten Dedrau declined to comment on Aunderbrau's indictment