The SPÖ saw the argument that a distinction had to be made between the ÖVP sub-organization and the club “collapse like a house of cards”. Meanwhile, it became known that an outsourced association of the Tyrolean Seniors’ Association also received money, namely around 180,000 euros.
SPÖ: “mess”
SPÖ federal director Christian Deutsch sensed “a mess” in a broadcast on Thursday and referred to a decision by the Independent Party Transparency Senate (UPTS). The UPTS had already decided in 2018 that, according to the party law, no differentiation should be made between the “Seniors’ Association” and the ÖVP sub-organization “Seniors’ Association”, since “the two organizations form a unit in terms of content”. In addition to the “complete clarification of this funding scandal”, he called on ÖVP chairman Nehammer to “repay the full sum of 1,915,194.14 euros”.
Kogler wants to check possible refunds
According to Deutsch, the corresponding decision was sent by the UPTS on December 14, 2018 to the ÖVP federal party – “to the attention of Mr. Secretary General Abg.z.NR Karl Nehammer, MSc” – and confirmed by the Federal Administrative Court. “Nehammer and Kogler have to answer why the senior citizens’ association still received almost two million euros from the NPO funding pot from July 2020 to March 2022, even though party organizations are excluded – and quickly,” said Deutsch. Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) has already announced that he will examine any claims for reimbursement – beyond the occasion, as was assured on APA request.
The test has been running for a week and should of course be completed as soon as possible, according to Kogler’s department. The time of completion also depends on how quickly the audited organizations provide the requested documents and information. In addition, a comprehensive and careful legal assessment must be the basis for the decision on possible reclaims.
NEOS announced further parliamentary questions
The NEOS also consider the argument that the “Verein OÖ Seniorenbund” is not identical to the ÖVP sub-organization Seniorenbund to be “outrageous”, as the deputy club chairman Niki Scherak emphasized. He announced another parliamentary question to find out if something similar happened in the other eight states.
Tyrolean ÖVP-related association received Covid funding
Apparently this was the case in Tyrol. As in other countries, the Tyrolean Seniors’ Association has outsourced its operational activities to an association “decoupled” from the party, explained the Seniors’ Association state chairwoman and ÖVP-LAbg. Patrizia Zoller-Frischauf to the “Tiroler Tageszeitung”. Only the club received Covid funding – exactly 184,764.49 euros.
Zoller-Frischauf justifies the application to the NPO fund with the loss of other income due to the pandemic and lockdowns. At the same time, the Seniors’ Association wanted to keep its seven employees in Tyrol. They were also very busy with many inquiries from members about Corona and the consequences. They even published their own service edition of the members’ newspaper. “It’s all understandable,” said the former Economics Minister. In addition, Zoller-Frischauf, like her colleague from Upper Austria, referred to a letter from the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Social Affairs from July 2020, according to which the ministry recommended that the Senior Citizens’ Council (in which the Senior Citizens’ Association is represented, note) report on revenue shortfalls in the Corona crisis to cushion the NPO fund. According to “TT”, the Seniors’ Association is said to have submitted applications for funding in several federal states.
NEOS politician Scherak called on Vice Chancellor Kogler to act. “The Vice Chancellor, who, according to media reports, now has his own doubts as to whether the funding for the Senior Citizens’ Association was lawful, has certainly already obtained this data and should therefore disclose it now, not in two months’ time. After all, this is about Taxpayers have a right to find out quickly whether there are indications in the rest of Austria that funding has flowed to sub-organisations of a party,” he explained. In the Kogler department it was said that this was not so easy to do, for example for data protection reasons. Within the framework of the right of interpellation, however, the inquiries would of course be answered.
Scherak said of the ÖVP argument: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. If the chairman is the same, the manager is the same and the members are largely the same , it’s probably one and the same organization. The ÖVP must finally learn that they too have to abide by rules and laws and that the Republic is not a self-service shop.”
Sharp criticism from the FPÖ
The FPÖ also spoke up. “Either the ÖVP is so broke that they have to raise money in every imaginable way, or they just can’t get enough of it. This party with its proponents is already scratching the mafia paragraph and should be investigated accordingly, there will be an investigative committee are no longer enough,” said General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz in a broadcast.
JUNOS: Liberal youth also used it
However, there are also allegations against the FPÖ, from the NEOS youth association JUNOS. In Upper Austria, the Young ÖVP and the Ring of Freedom Youth (RFJ) also used the NPO support fund, said federal chairwoman Anna Stürgkh in a broadcast. She demanded disclosures from youth organizations in all federal states. According to the JUNOS boss, you are completely transparent when it comes to finances.
Source: Nachrichten
