Debate in the state parliament

Provincial holdings remain in the spotlight

The Energie-AG Tower in Linz: the company is largely owned by the province of Upper Austria, and politicians both create and control it.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus/Markus Wenzel)

Politicians as supervisory board members in companies owned by the province of Upper Austria. The Neos party is calling for an end to this practice, while the ÖVP opposes it. Nevertheless, the parties will have to engage in an intensive discussion about this. 

Should representatives of the Upper Austrian state government sit on the supervisory boards of companies owned by the state of Upper Austria? "No", says Neos party leader Felix Eypeltauer, who - despite being absent due to illness - triggered a discussion on the issue at the provincial parliament meeting on Thursday. Green Party leader Severin Mayr said that it was necessary to look at where there were conflicts of interest and areas of tension: "We have to ask ourselves how the best possible control can be guaranteed."

Energie AG, cable car holding company, thermal spa holding company
Status quo in Upper Austria: The members of the provincial government influence the operational management of provincial companies, they must also control the management of Energie AG, Seilbahnholding, Thermenholding and Co. as supervisory board members and even chairmen. Neos politician Eypeltauer sees a conflict of interest here and supports the Linz ÖVP leader Martin Hajart, who put an end to this situation for himself and resigned from his positions on supervisory boards.

Markus Achleitner is the owner's representative of the state, but is also a member of the supervisory board of Energie AG, which is largely owned by the state.

(Bild: Land OÖ/Daniela Sternberger)

In parliament, Mayr cited Markus Achleitner as an extreme example. He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Energie AG and is also the provincial councillor responsible for energy. According to Mayr, the ÖVP politician is also responsible for the state's shareholdings and is the authorized owner representative. So a lot of responsibility at different levels lies with one person. Mayr says slightly mockingly: "I assume that Achleitner changes his hat more often at an average meeting of the Supervisory Board of Energie AG than Georg Dornauer does on a hunting trip." The issue will be discussed further in a committee.

Julia Bammer and Felix Eypeltauer from the Neos. Their pink seats remain empty on Thursday.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus/Markus Wenzel)

A side note: the Neos made a first at this meeting, as their parliamentary group was completely absent. Like Eypeltauer, MP Julia Bammer also sent her apologies. The pink chairs therefore remained empty. This has never happened before.