Mahrer also resigns as President of the Chamber of Commerce

Harald Mahrer (ÖVP) confirmed his resignation as President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) on Thursday afternoon. The pressure on him had become too great over the past few days, involving his own multiple incomes, salaries in the chamber, salary increases for board members, and the associated failed communication. Mahrer did not comment on his successor in his video statement, which was published on Facebook.

"I currently see no possibility of making responsible contributions to a positive future development," Mahrer said in the video. He will ensure an "orderly and timely" handover both in the chamber and in the Economic Association.

Resignation as OeNB President Announced Earlier

Mahrer had already announced his resignation as President of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) on Monday. Apparently, this did not succeed in calming the situation. This also applied to the announcement of analyses and reforms within the chamber. Recently, Mahrer lost more and more support within his own ranks - be it from regional chamber heads or important ÖVP politicians.

His resignation was openly demanded, and by early Thursday afternoon, it was considered certain, although it was not yet confirmed. For instance, he was still supported by Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs Elisabeth Zehetner (both ÖVP).

Mahrer Addressed Entrepreneurs and Employees Directly

Mahrer addressed the entrepreneurs, i.e., his chamber members, as well as the employees in the chamber directly. He referred to many achievements for the members - both domestically and abroad. All of this was based on the foundation of statutory representation of interests "a liberal idea of representation of interests."

Mahrer criticized the discussion of the past few days, stating that he had committed to reforms in the chamber and always emphasized the necessity of very significant reforms in Austria. However, "personal resentment and populism have dominated the media debate of the last few days - without added value for the economy and our country: This is not my playing field."

In the video, which was recorded in the Christoph Leitl Hall on the top floor of the Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna-Wieden against a foggy city backdrop, Mahrer also criticized the FPÖ without directly naming them. The largest parliamentary party is against chamber memberships, which Mahrer once again defended. They make the balance of interests between small, medium, and large companies possible. But even in the last coalition negotiations, which led to the three-party coalition, he, Mahrer, advocated for Austria to remain open to the world - "democratic, economically strong, and economically open." It requires democratic cooperation, economic freedom, performance, the importance of property, and a value of responsibility. The FPÖ was the loudest in demanding Mahrer's resignation from all parties.

Succession Question

The Tyrolean entrepreneur and WKÖ Vice President Martha Schultz was rumored in the media as Mahrer's successor at the WKÖ helm. However, some media also believe in an impending power struggle for Mahrer's succession in the WKÖ. The WKÖ is one of the social partners and is heavily involved in collective wage negotiations.

Mahrer is also the head of the ÖVP Economic Association. Mahrer also wants to have the succession clarified there soon. Recently, the Economic Association President has always also been the WKÖ President, the association governs absolutely in the chamber. The head of the significant People's Party association is also a member of the ÖVP Federal Party Executive Board.

Reactions from the Chancellor Downwards

Chancellor and ÖVP leader Christian Stocker informed the APA in writing that Mahrer "has made a personal decision in a situation that is also very difficult for him, which must be respected. I thank him for his services to the Republic as State Secretary, Federal Minister, and President of the Austrian Economic Chamber." Mahrer has demonstrated great commitment to Austria's economy and location policy in all these functions, "most recently also in the difficult phase of government formation." From the important social partner Economic Chamber, the Chancellor expects "a rapid reorganization in these economically difficult times in the interest of the Austrian economy and the entire state, to be able to work optimally for the upswing."

The Freedom Party considers Mahrer's resignation insufficient. "The resignation has not changed the situation or the scandal itself," said Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz via a statement. "There is fire on the roof because almost all presidents of the Economic Chamber in the federal and state levels and their vice presidents have been caught approving salary increases, some beyond 50 percent, in the middle of a crisis and at the expense of entrepreneurs."

Sabine Jungwirth, federal spokesperson for the Green Economy in a statement: "The anger of entrepreneurs over the bloated, expensive apparatus of the Economic Chamber has now come to light. However, the situation is by no means new, but has continuously escalated over the past years. In particular, one-person entrepreneurs, who make up about 60 percent of the chamber members, do not feel represented." The UNOS, the NEOS in the WKÖ, also continue to demand a chamber reform. This must now follow.

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) called for structural reforms and reliefs - the development in the Economic Chamber should be used for this. President Georg Knill thanked Mahrer for his commitment.

According to APA information, the heads of the state chambers will meet again with Mahrer for a session on Friday. Mahrer had already resigned as National Bank President at the beginning of the week.

The trigger was the salary increase of the WKÖ staff, partly very high salary increases in the presidencies of the federal and state chambers, as well as Mahrer's failed communication about it. Mahrer was also accused of accumulating many offices.

Mahrer Before Resignation: Recently Only a Few Supporters

The "Tiroler Tageszeitung" was the first to report. Then the "Kronen Zeitung" and the "Kurier" followed - each without citing sources. How Mahrer's party job as ÖVP Economic Association chairman will continue remained initially open.

The resignation was apparently no longer avoidable for Mahrer. Newspapers had already written on Thursday that he was on the verge of withdrawal. He himself is said to have still tried a defensive fight for his position. Recently, only Minister of Economy Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and the State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy Elisabeth Zehetner (both ÖVP) publicly supported him.

(APA/Red)

The Man "from the Economy" Harald Mahrer Leaves WKÖ Leadership

"No half measures": Now Harald Mahrer is also stepping down as President of the Chamber of Commerce, which he actually wanted to avoid by his previous resignation as National Bank President. But in the end, it apparently didn't work out for one of the last personnel remnants of the turquoise era of the Kurz-ÖVP. Mahrer has not only lost the support of entrepreneurs but also within his People's Party and in the chamber dominated by the ÖVP Economic Association.

As of Thursday early afternoon, Mahrer had not yet officially announced his departure from the WKÖ, and the Chamber of Commerce also did not want to confirm anything. However, unofficially and thanks to consistent media reports, it can be assumed. According to APA information, there will be another meeting of Mahrer with the heads of the state chambers of commerce on Friday. After that, it is expected to be officially communicated at the latest. If he stayed, he would face a fate as a "lame duck," said ÖVP expert Heidi Glück. When he announced his withdrawal from the central bank, he said he didn't want to do things halfway and wanted to fully concentrate on the chamber - but that is no longer the case.

"I Come from the Economy"

Among company representatives, whose businesses are mandatory members of the chamber, Mahrer never had as strong support as his predecessor Christoph Leitl. Leitl led a medium-sized company, Mahrer was a PR entrepreneur. But ironically, the botched public relations surrounding salary increases in the Chamber of Commerce, high salary increases in the presidencies of the federal and state chambers of commerce, cost the man, who always emphasized "I come from the economy," his job as Austria's top economic lobbyist. Those who suffer damage do not need to worry about ridicule.

Mahrer always presented himself as cosmopolitan, the big international stage was his. He thrived, for example, when there were large networking meetings of the WKÖ's foreign trade in Singapore. It cannot be denied that he was committed to the internationalization of the domestic economy. However, with the companies that only operate at home and struggle daily with rising costs, he did not resonate. Critics accuse Mahrer of being aloof and acting like a politician, not like an entrepreneur. Statements like those that the services of the Chamber of Commerce simply need to be better presented and communicated were far from sufficient.

Mahrer Was Considered an Office Accumulator

Mahrer was considered by many to be an accumulator of various offices or positions. For years, he was the man for economic policy jobs for which the ÖVP needed someone. He had a "yesterday's tendency to accumulate offices," but then gave up an office that was not up for debate, said political scientist Ferdinand Karlhofer recently.

Mahrer started his career after studying business administration in a political field, namely as chairman of the student union at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Subsequently, the Vienna-born on March 27, 1973, dedicated himself primarily to the consulting and PR industry. He founded legend Consulting GmbH and led the Austrian communications consultancy Pleon Publico for several years.

Mahrer made the leap into top politics in September 2014 as State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. With the resignation of Reinhold Mitterlehner (ÖVP) in May 2017, he rose to become Minister of Economy and Science for a little more than half a year. Later that year, he became head of the ÖVP Economic Association and then of the Chamber of Commerce (2018), where the Economic Association holds sway in its parliament. Now Mahrer will likely have to reorient himself. He already owns and runs a consulting company called HM Tauern Holding Beteiligungsgesellschaft m.b.H. based in Spittal in Carinthia.

(By Philip Stotter/APA)
(APA/Red)

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