Innsbruck, April 20, 2026
The SPÖ arbitration court has confirmed the expulsion of Georg Dornauer from the party, following a contentious dispute over his push for a "social-democratic" redistribution of energy profits.
Background of the Conflict
Dornauer, a 43-year-old former party leader and deputy governor of Tyrol, was expelled in October 2025 after proposing a controversial motion in the regional parliament. The motion demanded that €170 million in excess profits from the state energy provider Tiwag be returned to the public as a special dividend. The party leadership deemed this a "breach of coalition agreements" with their ÖVP partners.
Dornauer defended his proposal, arguing it aligned with "core social-democratic principles." He claimed the party sought to remove him despite his adherence to these values. "Der Ausschluss sei 'politisch und rechtlich nicht begründbar und daher auch nicht haltbar,'" he stated, insisting the national arbitration court should have jurisdiction over his case.
The Final Straw
The SPÖ leadership cited Dornauer’s "uncollegial behavior" since his forced resignation as party leader and deputy governor in November 2024 as a key factor in their decision. They described his unilateral Tiwag proposal as "the last straw."
"Dornauer hatte vor Beginn der Sitzung in der Landesparteizentrale noch einmal klargemacht, dass er die 'Aufhebung dieser unrechtmäßigen Entscheidung' erwarte," sources reported. However, the arbitration court upheld the expulsion, dismissing his claims of bias.