After the criticism of the memory gaps of the ÖVP governor of Vorarlberg in the corruption investigation commission, the advertising scandal is again in the state on Thursday. Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (also ÖVP) has an explosive role – after all, his ministry has a leading role in the case. In an initial statement, the minister explained that he did not know how the ads got into the newspapers – but transparency and clarification are very important to him.
In addition to Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), an accountant from the tax authorities and financial employee and entrepreneur Jürgen Rauch have been invited.
In addition to the advertising affair in Vorarlberg, Brunner will also discuss various matters related to the Ministry of Finance, such as the events surrounding pollster Sabine Beinschab. The Ministry of Finance plays an important role in the affair. An internal audit report confirmed irregularities in December 2021.
Treasury Department “Lessons Learned”
In his opening statement, Brunner emphasized that he had only held the post of Secretary of the Treasury since December 6 of the previous year — so he asked for your understanding that he can “barely have any idea” of certain events and decisions that occurred before his term in office. But he would do his part for political enlightenment, he insisted.
In any case, he advocates proper handling of taxpayers’ money. In any case, the Ministry of Finance has learned a lesson, says the minister in view of the criticized scholarships. “After the allegations became known, we immediately stopped all investigations and assignments at the relevant institutes, if they existed at all.” All investigations and investigations are also published, “on this road we continue”.
Brunner: No general condemnation
He knew there had been advertisements, but he didn’t know how they got into the paper, the Treasury Secretary explained in response to a question from the investigating judge. In any case, there were shortcomings and misconduct by individual employees, Brunner clarified, but there would be no general condemnations.
A “culture change” is also needed. “Every government structure should be aware that it has to do with taxpayers’ money.” The annual costs for advertisements are therefore reduced, but that does not mean that there will be no more advertisements, because there is an information obligation on the part of the federal government and the individual departments. “We will therefore continue to provide information on important topics.”
ÖVP tries to continue with the wall
Immediately at the start of the investigation, a sometimes emotional discussion about the internal regulations arose, at the initiative of the ÖVP. Again, it was a question of whether questions about the Vorarlberger Wirtschaftsbund were included in the subject of the investigation. The discussion escalated to such an extent that chairman Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) interrupted the meeting “until you all calmed down”.
Source: Krone
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