Cause "Neue Eisenstädter": U-Committee Starts in January

The preparations for the committee of inquiry into the housing association "Neue Eisenstädter" continue in Burgenland even over the Christmas period. While the state parliament directorate takes care of organizational matters, the clubs discuss the substantive priorities and lists of summons. The committee of inquiry will be established on January 12, with the inaugural meeting following on January 15.

First Interrogations Mid-February

The meeting schedule is largely set and initially includes 24 hearing days. The first interrogations are to begin in mid-February. Before that, the subject of the investigation and the lists of summons will be finalized. The election of the procedural judge and lawyer is already on the agenda for the first meeting. A nomination was already decided in a presidential conference: Wolfgang Köller is to become the procedural judge and Mario Burger the procedural lawyer. The venue, as with the committee of inquiry into the Commerzialbank, is the cultural center in Eisenstadt.

SPÖ Demands Improvements in Non-Profit Housing

The committee of inquiry was established at the request of the SPÖ because a special audit by the state revealed that the "Neue Eisenstädter" allegedly passed on excessively high interest rates to tenants and unlawfully sold apartments. Club chairman Roland Fürst and state parliament members Jürgen Dolesch, Roman Kainrath, and Christian Drobits want to question everything in the committee of inquiry that, in their view, does not work in favor of tenants in non-profit housing. They also want to explore compensation options for those affected and address the short-term amendment to the Non-Profit Housing Act considered by the federal ÖVP.

Greens: Tenants Should Benefit

For the green coalition partner, the investigative committee should also clarify grievances and bring concrete improvements for tenants. "We expect that current and future tenants will benefit from the results, especially financially," said club chairman Wolfgang Spitzmüller. Transparency, control, and fair conditions in non-profit housing are central goals.

FPÖ wants to ensure transparency

The representatives of the Freedom Party in the investigative committee, Christian Ries and Thomas Grandits, want to disclose possible omissions by the state in supervision. Their goal is to thoroughly examine the results of the special audit of the "Neue Eisenstädter" and ensure transparency and accountability. At the same time, they want to question whether the state was genuinely interested in clarification in the case or in taking over the housing company.

ÖVP wants to scrutinize all non-profit developers

The ÖVP, represented by club chairman Bernd Strobl, wants a broader scope of investigation. He not only wants to look at the "Neue Eisenstädter" but also all non-profit housing developers based in Burgenland, as well as the revocation of non-profit status from Pannonia, Riedenhof, and Gesfö. He is concerned with transparency in all areas and an independent review of state supervision. In the "Neue Eisenstädter" case, he wants to know what the government knew and when, and whether they could have intervened earlier.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.