One day before the start, the COFAG-U committee was given explosive numerical fodder. The Covid Finance Agency has transferred a whopping 18.7 million euros to companies attributed to financial juggler René Benko. The EU upper limit has therefore clearly been exceeded.
The 18.7 million euros for Benko’s business empire are based on figures from the transparency portal of the Ministry of Finance. The European Commission has only set a limit of 14 million euros for business associations.
Largest piece of Kika/Leiner
According to the list of public data, the Kika/Leiner Group, consisting of KIKA Möbel-Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Leiner & kika Möbelhandels GmbH and the affiliated catering companies LeiKi Gastro Alpha GmbH and LeiKi Gastro Beta GmbH, received the most COFAG financing. In concrete terms, the amount for these companies in the years 2020 to 2023 is approximately 9.1 million euros.
Von Park Hyatt bis Chalet N
But other companies linked to the Signa Group also received COFAG financing during this period, such as Hotel Park Hyatt in Vienna, which received around 4.8 million euros in two years. Hotel am Belvedere received support of approximately 3.7 million euros, the luxurious Chalet N am Arlberg received 1.1 million euros from 2020 to 2023.
If you look at Benko’s investments as a group of companies, the EU border has clearly been crossed. The Commission informed the Republic in 2022 that the entire group of companies is decisive for determining the upper limits for financial measures. The maximum amount – turnover and loss compensation added together – is just over 14 million euros.
FPÖ: “Black box without parliamentary control”
The FPÖ wants to confront respondents in the U-Committee with these ‘irregularities’ from Wednesday, party leader Christian Hafenecker announced. He also expects a “clarification” from Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) about which payments have been made to the affected companies and to what extent. Hafenecker also wants to know if tax deferrals are available at other Signa companies besides Kika/Leiner. Including this, the bankruptcy of the Signa Group has already cost around 50 million euros.
In general, Hafenecker does not shy away from criticizing COFAG before the start of the investigations in the U-Committee. The government has thus set up a “black box without parliamentary control”. A ‘fast lane’ has also been created for suspected ÖVP donors to receive funding quickly.
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.
