René Benko’s real estate empire is being investigated by the parliamentary inquiry committee. On the one hand, it concerns tax avoidance through complicated corporate structures and on the other hand, Corona subsidies. However, to the annoyance of the Greens, the Ministry of Finance is showing restraint.
The Greens have requested documents from two properties (Chalet N and Schlosshotel Igls) that are currently undergoing tax audits. However, the ministry does not release these and states that these properties cannot be attributed to René Benko. “At the same time, they write that the Laura Private Foundation is already owned by Benko. The castle hotel and chalet are owned by the Laura Private Foundation,” said MP Nina Tomaselli.
Tomaselli locates here “dizzying hotel constructions that could become dizzying tax structures.” At the ÖVP Ministry of Finance, there is almost a “feel-good program for Benko’s tax affairs,” the MP said. Around the turn of the year it was announced that the €60 million private villa had accrued €12 million in sales tax debts.
Tomaselli also sees inconsistencies with Chalet N. This was officially run as a hotel. ‘But we can prove through files that Benko himself is probably his best guest. According to current media reports, the finance department checks whether everything has been done correctly from a tax perspective. “So we know that tax audits are taking place at the two luxury houses and the Ministry of Finance does not want to provide the files to the U-Commission,” Tomaselli criticizes. “We want to know from the Ministry of Finance: why did René Benko get away with tax tricks?”
It is quite “brazen” on the part of the Ministry of Finance that MPs are denied access to the files. The reasoning that the villa and chalet in private use, which belong to Benko’s private foundation, is not attributable to Benko is unfounded. “The Ministry of Finance would do well to participate in the political education work on Benko,” the MP said.
When asked, the ministry emphasized that efforts are being made to “provide all documents fully and on time to the investigative committee and indicated that parliamentarians should specify their investigations. The reasons for the non-provision were described in detail, “which also makes it relatively easy for the investigative committee to make additional requests for evidence to obtain exactly those documents that were ‘actually desired’.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
