VIENNA, April 16 (Reuters) - The former head of Austrian national broadcaster ORF who quit his post over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies, plans to sue the company for close to 4
Former ORF Director Plans €4 Million Lawsuit Amid Scandal and Allegations
Legal Dispute and Scandal Surrounding ORF Leadership
Background of the Allegations
VIENNA, April 16 (Reuters) - The former head of Austrian national broadcaster ORF who quit his post over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies, plans to sue the company for close to 4 million euros ($4.7 million), he said in remarks to Austrian media broadcast on Thursday.
Impact on ORF and Public Trust
The dispute over Roland Weissmann's departure as director general has plunged ORF into a wider scandal involving political infighting and alleged conflicts of interest among its senior leadership, which has shaken public trust in the broadcaster as it prepares to host the Eurovision Song Contest next month.
Details of Weissmann's Resignation
Weissmann, now 58, stepped down in March days after being informed that a female ORF employee had accused him of sexual harassment at the beginning of his tenure in 2022. Weissmann's lawyer said he had been given a matter of days to step down and did so to protect the company.
ORF's Internal Investigation and Response
ORF said last week an investigation it had ordered found his actions fell short of sexual harassment but also of the "very high standard of integrity" it requires of its staff, who must also avoid actions that could harm the company. Since he remained an employee, it said it was terminating that status.
Weissmann's Statement on the Situation
"It is not about revenge. It is about justice. Harm has been done to me, and harm has also been done to ORF, and we must see how we move forward in this situation," Weissmann said.
Additional Information
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(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
