The Green Party wants to access 1.3 billion euros from the reserves held by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ).
The Greens accuse the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) of concealing the true size of its wealth, asserting that the institution still holds more than 1.3 billion euros in freely available reserves. They claim that the People's Party (ÖVP), which controls the chamber, presents 'misleading' figures to the public.
In a sharp statement, the spokesperson for the green economy, Sabine Youngferth, said that the WKÖ is "much more liquid than it acknowledges," emphasizing that the official figures ignore the large assets owned by 693 professional organizations affiliated with the chamber. She also pointed out that related assets such as real estate can be sold or used as collateral, making them less restrictive than portrayed.
The Greens say that chamber reserves have increased by about 19 percent since 2019, while Austria's economic output has grown by no more than 2 percent. They assert that this imbalance reveals a flaw in the revenue system that has allowed the economic union affiliated with the People's Party to build a massive and growing financial base.
The Austrian Chamber rejects these accusations. In a 'fact-finding' published on its website, it states that its revenues have not kept pace with inflation or the long-term growth in the number of members. It emphasizes that most of the reserves—about two-thirds of the two billion euros—are tied up in fixed assets such as offices, regional branches, foreign trade offices, WIFI training centers, in addition to reserves of professional organizations.
The chamber states that only 780 million euros are considered actual liquidity, divided between 301 million euros allocated to cover potential annual losses, and 479 million euros legally tied or directed for specific uses. The leadership of the WKÖ, including President Harald Maier, has faced increasing criticism amid broader financial concerns, including a recorded loss of 10.3 million euros in 2024 due to declining chamber fees.