2023-12-28 14:40:05
SPÖ demands clarification regarding Benko’s work and the ÖVP’s contribution to it – insolvency law needs reform
Vienna (OTS/SK) – The recent headlines regarding bankruptcies in Rene Benko’s Signa Group once once more clearly confirm the SPÖ’s demands for comprehensive clarification of René Benko’s dubious activities. The deputy SPÖ club chairman and spokesman for budget and finance, Jan Krainer, said: “Benko’s house of cards continues to collapse, making it clear that we must fully investigate Benko’s machinations and any ÖVP aid in this financial scandal. Taxpayers must not be asked to pay for these dubious transactions.” ****
According to reports, Signa Prime’s liabilities total a whopping 4.5 billion. Together with the holding’s liabilities and the expected further bankruptcies, the 10 billion mark will soon be exceeded. For comparison: the federal government spends the same amount on schools every year. With these sums it becomes clear that the current insolvency law is not sufficient. Complex company structures might all too easily obscure debts. “Austrian insolvency law needs to be repaired so that companies in the same group can be viewed together so that assets cannot continue to shift to the detriment of creditors while managers earn a fortune,” said Krainer.
In addition to the group consideration, the SPÖ demands that tax debts of insolvent companies must be paid with priority so that taxpayers no longer have to be liable for failed entrepreneurs, as well as a separate judicial unit to deal with insolvencies. Krainer: “Every single application for bankruptcy by Rene Benko should actually wake up the federal government to finally take action here. Because with the current regulation, it is the state and taxpayers who are presented with the bill for Benko’s misconduct.”
Unfortunately, it is not surprising that the ÖVP in particular has not moved a millimeter to hold billionaires like Benko accountable and to protect themselves from employees and taxpayers. Krainer, who is also the SPÖ faction leader on the new COFAG investigative committee, wants to work for full clarification: “We will use the U-Committee to determine whether and how ÖVP governments supported Kurz confidant Rene Benko in his pyramid game. It’s regarding investigating why politics and the government not only watched, but also promoted this business model, which has now failed so badly.” (Conclusion) ts/up
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