VSStÖ Innsbruck: Alleged misuse of funding by the ÖVP action group!
Immediate repayment and political consequences demanded
Innsbruck (OTS) – Vincent Gogala, Chairman of the VSStÖ Innsbruck, is absolutely stunned by the shameless audacity with which an ÖVP organization is once again using funds for non-profit organizations (NPO). As became known yesterday via a “Zeit im Bild” report, the ÖVP student organization “Aktionsgemeinschaft” used more than €5,000 from the federal government’s NPO support fund in Innsbruck alone. “This is a clear circumvention construct, since political parties and non-profit organizations are expressly excluded from any funding from this pot according to the applicable guidelines”
, Gogala gets angry. There is also the question of how the necessary proof of use can be provided. “It is absolutely beyond me what loss of income a student group should have due to the corona situation that would justify support of this amount. The money from the NPO support fund may only cover fixed costs (no personnel costs!) that could not be covered due to a loss of income. There is a suspicion that the upcoming ÖH election campaign of the ÖVP-AG is to be managed at the expense of the general public“
So Gogala further.
The VSStÖ calls on those responsible to pay back the funds received immediately so that they are available to those institutions for which the NPO support fund was created. However, repayment alone is not enough, political consequences are needed: “The chairman of the AG Innsbruck Elias Knauseder and the chairman of the ÖH at the University of Innsbruck Daniel Müller must resign immediately! It is unacceptable that the students at the University of Innsbruck are represented by people who so unrestrainedly enrich themselves with public funds.”
explains Gogala.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a senior citizens’ association, a farmers’ association, a student union or an action group: the ÖVP shamelessly uses tax money. Meanwhile, the ÖVP government team is refusing urgently needed support measures for the general public or putting them off. Every day I am confronted with fellow students who no longer know how to earn their daily living in view of the rising prices. It’s enough for us, measures are needed, now”
, closes Gogala.
Questions & contact:
Luke Bickel
press secretary
+43 676 385 88 13
lukas.bickel@vsstoe.at
https://vsstoe.at