The SPÖ and the FPÖ symbolize “two-class governance” as a result of the “priority given by ÖVP government members to billionaires”, as they are officially called. For COFAG, information exchange and interventions, cooperation between state-affiliated institutions and state oversight should be explored centrally. Attention should also be paid to entrepreneurs who are considered to have assets of at least one billion euros.
The opposition suspects that certain companies are benefiting disproportionately from the system as “structural conditions” were “adjusted” in their favor when COFAG was created. The FPÖ talks about a “fast track” for ÖVP-affiliated companies. One of those focusing on the matter is investor Rene Benko — a lot of the team is surrounding him and his collapsed Cigna company. Benko is also called.
18.7 million euros to Benco companies
The Finance Ministry's transparency portal shows that companies attributed to Benco have received at least 18.7 million euros through COFAG. According to COFAG guidelines, financing for corporate groups may exceed a maximum of €14 million – depending on whether Benco sees its investments as a corporate group or not.
Opposition parties suspect that entrepreneur Siegfried Wolf allegedly benefited disproportionately from government aid. He has been invited to give information; He wants to deny the “absurd accusations” in the group, as he put it: that neither he nor any of his companies received a single euro more than what was legally set. He spoke of an “unbearable smear campaign” against him.
First questions for Peschorn
Benko and Wolff will be in the spotlight early Wednesday: the first to be interviewed is financial lawyer Wolfgang Beskorn. He represents the Republic in the bankruptcy proceedings of Pengos Cigna and will be asked about it above all – SPÖ parliamentary group leader Kai Jan Kreiner will probably focus on the bankruptcies of the furniture chain Kika/Leiner and Cigna – the person responsible for Beskorn. To clean the damage from behind”.
ORF.Ad Report
ORF.at reports on the COFAG-U group and the “red-blue” U-group directly from the meeting room in the parliament.
FPÖ parliamentary group leader Christian Hafeneker expects him to provide information on the basis for the COFAG structure and answers to the question of whether there would have been better solutions without regulation and additional costs and a parallel system for tax offices.
The second person to answer questions from MPs on Wednesday was a former Finance Ministry employee. Among other things, he was involved in the Wolf tax case, which involved possible interventions related to back taxes. Specifically, it concerns a dubious deal between Wolff and a tax official. Both are listed as defendants in the case, and both maintain their innocence, and the presumption of innocence applies.
On Thursday, other active or former finance employees will have to answer questions: The first responder is an officer at the tax office, who works as an auditor for large corporations and will be asked about his feelings about Benco's tax practices, particularly Benco's jet, foundations. and institutions attributed to him.
The second respondent is the head of the Vienna 1/23 tax office and is responsible, inter alia, for the tax audit of Cigna Holding. The now-retired head of the tax office criticized Cigna's transfer of responsibility from Vienna to the tax office in Innsbruck. There has been a substantial tax cut, NEOS unit chief Yannick Shetty suspects a system behind it.
COFAG boss questioned
COFAG's executive director, Mark Shimpel, called on Thursday afternoon. He will be asked by NEOS about possible interventions in the interest of certain institutions in relation to political actors. His own business is also likely to become a problem, ending COFAG and reimbursements.
COFAG and its behavior has long been a hot topic. The Court of Auditors (RH) audited the aid agency from March 2020 to June 2021 and found “significant over-funding capacity” and criticized, among other things, high costs for the agency established specifically for CoV aid. The Constitutional Court (VfGH) ruled the COFAG framework partly unconstitutional in October.
Sobotka presided, Edwards the trial judge
As usual, a review period is limited – it extends from December 18, 2017 to November 23, 2023. The meeting days are few and far between – the U-group on “red-blue abuse of power” is supported by seven people in the COFAG-U group and the ÖVP, which starts on Wednesday next week. In accordance with the rules of procedure, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) chairs both U-committees.
The procedural judge in the COFAG-U Committee and the “Red-Blue” U-Committee is Christa Edwards from the Higher Regional Court of Vienna, who has already served as deputy procedural judge in the ÖVP corruption U-Committee. Juvenile Judge Pete Matschnick sits by her side as her partner. In an interview with ORF.at he spoke of “great expectations”.
