Party-linked clubs received more than 2.7 million euros in corona aid between 2020 and 2022. The money came from the “Non-Profit Organizations-Support Fund” (NPO for short), which was led by Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens). According to NEOS inquiries, the majority of payments went to clubs close to the ÖVP, such as the Senior Citizens’ Association.
In total, however, only 327 of the 1640 organizations surveyed received support. Of the total of 2.7 million euros, more than 2.5 million euros can be attributed to the People’s Party. The Seniors Association of Upper Austria received the most corona help.
The NEOS allocates 163,984 euros to the SPÖ, for example the tenants’ association of Upper Austria and the association of social-democratic academics (BSA). The FPÖ is mentioned with 6828 euros, including payments to the Ring of Freedom Students (RFS) and the Freedom Family Association in Upper Austria. In response to the NEOS request, Kogler emphasized that 321 clubs had already been the subject of previous responses to requests. An organization that is close to a party is not excluded from the fund, unlike party sub-organizations.
refunds made?
The SPÖ also argued in this direction; the FPÖ said the funds received had not been used and would be refunded. Kogler’s answer does not show who has relieved in the meantime. At the end of July, his department announced that 81,700 euros had been recovered. Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS) should further investigate whether recipients of funding who are formally a non-profit association can still be counted as parties under party law. As already mentioned, they would then be excluded from the Fund’s resources.
NEOS: “Not a self-service store”
“The Republic is not a self-service store. It cannot be the case that the old parties SPÖ, ÖVP, but also the FPÖ unabashedly gain access to and use the NPO fund. From our point of view, this is clearly illegal,” criticized NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos. He urged the organizations to return the funds received as soon as possible.
Source: Krone
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