Schülerunion Under Pressure: Published Chat Messages Trigger Cross-Party Criticism

According to the AKS, the chat group included, alongside state-level officials, federal and state-level student representatives, including „auch mehrere Mitglieder des aktuellen Bundesvorstandes der Schülerunion". The chat messages had become public the Tuesday before. According to the Schülerunion, the chats date from the previous year and concern individual officials of Schülerunion Kärnten.

Response from the Schülerunion

The Schülerunion responded with a written statement sent to the APA by press officer Jonas Pichlbauer. It reads: „Wir als Schülerunion Österreich distanzieren uns in aller Deutlichkeit von den veröffentlichten Nachrichten im Rahmen eines privaten Chats von einzelnen Funktionär:innen der Schülerunion Kärnten und verurteilen diese aufs Schärfste. Dieses Verhalten von Einzelpersonen ist nicht mit unseren Werten vereinbar und zutiefst bestürzend."

The AKS drew further conclusions from the participation of members of the federal executive board. The organization stated verbatim: „Dieses Gedankengut scheint also tief in der Organisation verwurzelt". AKS and JUNOS demanded personnel consequences from the Schülerunion.

The Schülerunion stated that individuals who had made reprehensible statements had already relinquished their positions in the organization. In addition, „Ab Kenntnis der genannten Chats aus dem letzten Jahr Konsequenzen gezogen" had been taken.

Internal Guidelines and Consequences

In connection with the incidents, the Schülerunion also pointed to internal regulations: „Bereits seit Dezember 2025 gebe es Richtlinien für jene Chat-Gruppe, die für alle Gruppenmitglieder klar ersichtlich sind." Furthermore, every member of the chat group who is also a member of the association was required to attend a sensitization workshop.

Political Context: Student Representation Elections

The timing of the revelation falls in a politically sensitive phase: elections for the state student spokesperson positions are currently being held. The newly elected state student spokespersons are to elect the federal student spokesperson in September. According to its own statements, the Schülerunion has held this top position for 22 years.

The incidents and the criticism they have drawn raise the question of how credible the already announced consequences are. While the Schülerunion points to previous internal steps and categorizes the chat content as the actions of individual officials of Schülerunion Kärnten, AKS and JUNOS insist on a full investigation and further personnel consequences.

According to its own statements and as described by AKS, the Schülerunion is the ÖVP-affiliated student organization. AKS is described as the SPÖ-affiliated student organization, and JUNOS Schüler:innen is active in the criticism as another student organization. Wachter and Lieder formulated the joint appeal to the Schülerunion to fully investigate the chats – the pressure on the organization therefore persists.