In Europe, charges of Ron Lauder tinkering in Jewish politics causes a stir
By Cnaan Liphshiz · December 11, 2012
Ronald Lauder, is denying accusations that he offered millions of dollars to board members of the the Jewish Community of Vienna in exchange for electing his candidate as president. (Creative Commons)
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Ronald Lauder je odbio optužbu da je ponudio milijune dolara članovima odbora Židovske zajednice u Beču u zamjenu za izbor njegovog kandidata za predsjednika.
Više od 20 godina je američki bilioner i predsjednik Svjetskog židovskog kongresa radio na obnovi židovskog života u Centralnoj i Istočnoj Evropi. Financirao je mnogo židovskih edukativnih i kulturnih aktivnosti koje su pomogle da se ožive židovske zajednice koje su dugo bile "uspavane" iza "željezne zavjese".
Sada evropski lideri optužuju Laudera da je iskoristio svoju moć u neuspjelom pokušaju da utječe na dva izbora u židovskim zajednicama - za vodstvo u židovskoj zajednici Beča i za presjedništvo Evropskog židovskog kongresa. Židovska zajednica u Beču je proglasila Laudera, bivšeg USA ambasadora u Austriji, kao nepoželjnog ( persona non grata).
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A spokesman for Lauder denied that Lauder tried to buy the Vienna election and refused to answer questions concerning the EJC.“I don’t know if this is a new pattern for Lauder, but I do know he’s done it twice now -- once in Vienna and once during the EJC elections,” Ariel Muzicant, a former Vienna community president, told JTA.
Two vice presidents of the World Jewish Congress -- Cobi Benatof and Flo Kaufmann -- have called on Lauder to step down temporarily from his WJC post until the allegations are investigated. Benatof said if the charges prove to be true, it would constitute a violation of the WJC constitution’s ban on interference in the local politics of individual communities.....
The row in Austria exploded on Dec. 3 when Oskar Deutsch, president of the Vienna Jewish Community, sent a letter to other European community leaders accusing Lauder of offering $5.8 million to factions of the community’s board if they elected his favored presidential candidate, Martin Engelberg. Deutsch prevailed in the election, nonetheless.
After JTA broke the story of Deutsch’s letter, Muzicant came forth with the accusation that Lauder offered money to EJC delegates in exchange for supporting Dr. Richard Prasquier, a French cardiologist and head of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group, for EJC president in elections held Nov. 7. Several sources told JTA that Lauder had lobbied them on behalf of Prasquier prior to the elections.....