Finance
Ex-Head of Austrian Broadcaster Orf Plans to Sue Over Departure, He Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
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Roland Weißmann, who resigned as ORF director amid denied sexual harassment allegations, plans to sue his former employer for nearly €4 million, asserting unjust treatment despite being cleared of legal misconduct.
Former ORF Director Plans €4 Million Lawsuit Amid Scandal and Allegations
Legal Dispute and Scandal Surrounding ORF Leadership
Background of the Allegations
VIENNA, April 16 (Reuters) - The former head of Austrian national broadcaster ORF who quit his post over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies, plans to sue the company for close to 4 million euros ($4.7 million), he said in remarks to Austrian media broadcast on Thursday.
Impact on ORF and Public Trust
The dispute over Roland Weissmann's departure as director general has plunged ORF into a wider scandal involving political infighting and alleged conflicts of interest among its senior leadership, which has shaken public trust in the broadcaster as it prepares to host the Eurovision Song Contest next month.
Details of Weissmann's Resignation
Weissmann, now 58, stepped down in March days after being informed that a female ORF employee had accused him of sexual harassment at the beginning of his tenure in 2022. Weissmann's lawyer said he had been given a matter of days to step down and did so to protect the company.
ORF's Internal Investigation and Response
ORF said last week an investigation it had ordered found his actions fell short of sexual harassment but also of the "very high standard of integrity" it requires of its staff, who must also avoid actions that could harm the company. Since he remained an employee, it said it was terminating that status.
Weissmann's Statement on the Situation
"It is not about revenge. It is about justice. Harm has been done to me, and harm has also been done to ORF, and we must see how we move forward in this situation," Weissmann said.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.8490 euros)
(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Takeaways
- •Weißmann denies wrongdoing and says he resigned under pressure, aiming to protect ORF’s reputation (orf.at)
- •A compliance investigation found no sexual harassment in legal terms, but ORF cited breach of its high integrity standards in terminating his employment (vienna.at)
- •The dispute underscores internal strife at ORF and threatens trust ahead of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna (orf.at)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Ex-head of Austrian broadcaster ORF plans to sue over departure, he says
1Why did Roland Weissmann step down as ORF director general?
Roland Weissmann resigned as ORF director general after being informed of a sexual harassment allegation, which he denies.
2How much does Weissmann plan to sue ORF for?
Weissmann plans to sue ORF for close to 4 million euros, or about $4.7 million.
3What triggered the scandal at Austrian broadcaster ORF?
The scandal was triggered by allegations of sexual harassment and subsequent leadership conflicts within ORF's senior management.
4What did the ORF investigation conclude about Weissmann's conduct?
ORF's investigation found Weissmann's actions fell short of sexual harassment but did not meet the broadcaster's high integrity standards.
5How has the ORF scandal affected public trust?
The scandal involving leadership conflicts and allegations has shaken public trust in ORF as it prepares to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
