The ÖVP Seniors’ Association groups will repay the coronavirus funding for non-profit institutions that, according to the Independent Party Transparency Senate (UPTS), was wrongly received.
The Federal Executive Board announced this in a broadcast following its meeting today. However, this is done with reservations, as it was said. Should the UPTS decision be overturned at the end of the legal process, the funds will be reclaimed. A guarantee is also required for this.
2.5 million euros
At the end of January, the UPTS took the view that the senior citizens’ association should be considered part of the ÖVP. The ÖVP, on the other hand, had always argued that the associations with the same name that existed in several federal states and districts were not part of the party but were non-profit.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Office responsible now joined the arguments of the UPTS and demands back subsidies of almost 2.5 million.
The decision of Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) was “taken note of with astonishment”, according to the Senior Citizens’ Association today. It is incomprehensible “for several reasons” and represents a demotivation for tens of thousands of honorary officials.