Police raid Vienna immigration office amid allegations of staff corruption

On Tuesday, law enforcement conducted a house search at the headquarters of Vienna's Magistratsabteilung 35, the municipal body overseeing immigration and citizenship, after a staff member was alleged to have taken illicit benefits. The raid led to the seizure of multiple items, and the employee reportedly did not return to work on Wednesday. MA 35 confirmed the employee's absence and emphasized its voluntary collaboration with the authorities.

Both the FPÖ and the ÖVP, represented by Maximilian Krauss and Harald Zierfuß, pressed for a full investigation and political accountability, labeling the episode a disaster and demanding the resignation of councilor Bettina Emmerling. Krauss also pointed to chronic personnel shortages and organisational shortcomings within MA 35, noting numerous complaints lodged with the Ombudsman. Green party integration spokesperson Berivan Aslan expressed alarm and called for both clarification of the case and acceleration of pending reforms.