In the last plenary week before the EU elections, the parties tried again to convey their content to the people. Things were particularly heated around the subject of wealth tax. While the SPÖ and the Greens promoted this, the ÖVP, FPÖ and NEOS spoke out clearly against it. ÖVP club boss August Wöginger predicted that such a tax would lead to an outflow of capital with associated taxes: “These billionaires are not stupid people.”
SPÖ finance spokesman Jan Krainer justified a wealth tax by saying, among other things, that the rich “and not even the most brutal” paid only half the taxes of normal employees: “Why do you protect yourself against those who are doing particularly well? in life?”, the red financial spokesperson asked the ÖVP. The Greens promoted a wealth tax through their social spokesperson Markus Koza.
Austria certainly has no problem with a tax burden that is too low, says State Secretary Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP). The SPÖ’s expected property tax revenues are ‘fantasy figures’. Instead, we should think about how we can reduce taxes for those who go to work every day.
ÖVP club boss August Wöginger doubled down: “With the ÖVP there will be no wealth and inheritance taxes, so that is now clear.” Wöginger predicted an outflow of capital with associated taxes: “These billionaires are not stupid people.”
“Reich Bashing”
The NEOS also spoke out clearly against wealth taxes: “You have no idea how the economy works,” said SPÖ MP Gerald Loacker. In any case, the NEOS preferred to talk about where money could be released through savings, namely the federal states. It makes more sense to start there than ‘rich bashing’, said representative Josef Schellhorn.
FPÖ localizes envy debate
The FPÖ also does not believe in wealth taxes. Social spokesperson Dagmar Belakowitsch recognized a debate based on envy: “People don’t care at all whether Mr. Benko was preferred.” Besides, they have judges for that. What is interesting for the population is the loss of prosperity, which in turn has been caused by the government, starting with the measures during the corona pandemic.
COFAG-U committee as a reason for debate
The main reason for the debate was the conclusion of the COFAG-U committee, which showed that the SPÖ and the Greens had a preference for the rich in the country. The representative of the Green Party, Nina Tomaselli, pointed to the Rene Benko case, where not only investors but also small entrepreneurs and taxpayers had to pay extra. For years, only the financial world watched and politicians also helped Benko. SPÖ representative Michaela Schmidt saw that the work of the financial authorities was hampered by politics.
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.
