Authority dispute! How an old Linz census pair was harassed

Authority dispute! How an old Linz census pair was harassed

in Linz, a brazen bureaucratic mistake causes excitement: an older couple whose answers to mandatory surveys of statistics Austria were not sufficient, a criminal order received, despite clear deficits in reading ability and dementia. The 76-year-old woman and her 80-year-old husband were not freed from the survey, although her cousin, Ms. W., tried to support her in answering the questions, as the Krone reported.

The microcensus, a three -part research project, is legally mandatory and is intended to collect the living conditions by chance. In the case of the couple, however, the situation was tricky: Ms. P. can hardly read, and her husband suffers from advanced dementia. After the first two appointments had taken place by home, the statistics authority sent the couple a reminder because the answers were insufficient. Despite another attempt on the phone, in which the cousin was also involved, the surprising criminal order came from the Linz Magistrate, reported Ms. W. This Developments raise questions. The magistrate finally stopped the procedure after long calls that ran over 18 months.

The statistics Austria admits that this is a rare error. In such cases, participants who are unable to answer should normally be represented. The authority announced that it is now examining the case more precisely. A spokeswoman said: "We will now take a close look at the Linz case."