Court of Auditors: Hard criticism of the basic traffic commission
This test was commissioned by the Salzburg SPÖ. This is now also harshly criticizing the politically responsible ÖVP, which politically controls the state parliament and the state government. “Farming land in the hands of farmers” is actually the motto that is laid down in the Salzburg Land Traffic Act. The law aims to prevent grassland from falling into the hands of investors and speculators. Each district has its own basic traffic commission to ensure that the law is enforced.
Farmer status probably rarely checked
The Commission decides whether someone is a farmer and therefore meets the requirements for the purchase of agricultural and forestry land – or not. If someone who is not a farmer wants to buy agricultural land, then the deal must be publicly announced. So that at best a farmer can still buy it.
According to the rough report of the State Audit Office, the Real Estate Commission in Pinzgau did not even determine in 296 proceedings and land sales that were conducted between 2018 and 2020 in around half of the cases (155) whether someone is actually a farmer – or not.
“Large disregard for the rule of law”
The criticism in the rough report of the auditors is actually scathing. The Pinzgau Basic Traffic Commission has apparently largely “disregarded the rule of law” in the proceedings, it says literally. There is also criticism of the state government. The supreme supervisory authority of the land traffic commissions has not yet taken over this function accordingly for the Pinzgau.
The competent district authority in Zell am See states in writing that they have all the laws.
State Council expects weakening
Regional Councilor Josef Schwaiger (ÖVP), who is responsible for regional planning, says that these cases will now be examined carefully: “Then we will see whether the cases are actually as they are now supposedly presented. I am convinced that there is a big difference to what is being reported now. But it has been clear to me for a number of years that something has to be done.”
That is why the new Basic Traffic Act was introduced. This should eliminate these problems, according to Schwaiger.
Social Democrats see scandalous conditions
Harsh criticism, on the other hand, comes today from the Salzburg SPÖ state party leader David Egger: “It was shocking for me too what I read today. Apparently, not only the Postenschacher goes on, but also the Schanzen of land. I reject this art and this politics.”
ÖVP regional councilor Schwaiger says that he can rule out that he would have ruled in even one square meter of land traffic: “That’s not my approach to politics, and I will keep it that way in the future.”
The SPÖ does not want to be satisfied with that. The topic had to be discussed in the state parliament as quickly as possible, according to party leader Egger.