In today’s ‘Club 3’ broadcast, lawyer and COFAG expert Gerald Waitz, parliamentary group leader of the U-Commission (FPÖ), Christian Hafenecker and Samy El Makarem, also known as ‘Finance Minister’, discuss the federal COVID-19 financing agency ( COFAG). Moderator Tanja Pfaffeneder leads the show.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had enormous economic consequences worldwide. In Austria, the Federal Financing Agency for COVID-19 – COFAG for short – was established at the end of March. In any case, it was said that this was intended to limit economic damage and stabilize the Austrian economy.
In practice, however, it often turns out that companies often had to wait years for urgently needed financing or that applications were even rejected. “Many companies have fallen through the cracks,” says attorney Gerald Waitz. At the time, his law firm developed its own information page to clarify legal issues.
“Far too complex”
But was the support distributed fairly? The fellow discussants agree: No! Small companies often didn’t stand a chance. “There should be more points of contact and it shouldn’t be so complicated,” says Samy El Makarem, who is now known as the “Minister of Finance”. “Favorites of the ruling parties, especially the ÖVP, were lavishly served,” says FPÖ politician Christian Hafenecker. In concrete terms, according to Hafenecker, they want to clarify why the government has not succeeded from the start in creating EU-compliant guidelines at COFAG.
You can watch “Club 3” every Tuesday from 10:15 PM
In “Club 3” politicians, journalists, pollsters and public figures discuss the latest topics affecting Austria and the world. Tanja Pfaffeneder presents the show.
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.
