Overview
- Police measured Hofer’s blood-alcohol at 2.48‰ after a traffic stop, and he later apologized to a newspaper and said he will accept the authorities’ consequences.
- Under Austrian rules a level above 1.6‰ typically leads to heavy fines, a minimum six-month driving ban, required medical and traffic-psychological exams, and mandatory retraining.
- Austro Control will review Hofer’s fitness as a pilot and he is likely barred from flying during the review, while weapons authorities must assess whether to suspend or revoke his weapons permit.
- Political rivals have called for his resignation, the SPÖ demanded he step down, and sources say his standing inside the FPÖ is now weakened and limits his future roles.
- The case follows a similar FPÖ enforcement against MP Peter Schmiedlechner in May and highlights repeated drunk-driving problems among party figures that could prompt closer administrative and party scrutiny.