Austrian Polling Allegations 'Damaging Trust'

ESOMAR and Austria's insight association VMÖ have responded to a scandal involving skewed polls allegedly conducted for former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz - stressing a policy of zero tolerance for unethical practices in an industry reliant on public trust.

According to www.politico.eu Sabine Beinschab, founder of polling firm Research Affairs, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a corruption and bribery scandal which had led to the resignation of Sebastian Kurz as the country's Chancellor at the weekend. Beinschab is accused of having deleted her computer's hard drive shortly before police raids on the offices of Kurz, his close advisers and the conservative party headquarters in Vienna on October 6th - and faces a charge of suppression of evidence. Before founding Research Affairs in 2015, Beinschab was an assistant to pollster and researcher Sophie Karmasin, who was Family Minister between 2013 and 2017 for Kurz's People's Party.

Allegations suggest that Research Affairs carried out surveys from 2016 onwards, manipulating results for publication in the tabloid Österreich and other media, to suit the agenda of Kurz who at the time was Foreign Minister with designs on the Chancellorship. The surveys were allegedly disguised as 'studies' and paid for by the finance ministry, reaping rich rewards for Research Affairs.

The Austrian MR Association VMÖ, supported by ESOMAR, has issued a statement underlining that 'unethical business practices will not be tolerated in the insights and analytics community' and that as 'Research quality is of key importance to retain public trust and confidence... The current negative headlines... are causing considerable damage to the image of the entire market and opinion research industry particularly in Austria but also elsewhere'. VMÖ President Alice Flamant stresses: 'Austrian market and opinion researchers are working according to valid norms and ethical standards. The results are based on scientific surveys and crucial for many decision-making processes. It is annoying when individuals do not adhere to these standards and the impression is created that opinion research results are manipulated. Therefore, our members commit themselves to strict quality guidelines'.

ESOMAR says it is actively monitoring the situation as it develops. Web site: www.esomar.org .