Gewessler's Ministry: 446,000 euros for food and furniture!

Gewessler's Ministry: 446,000 euros for food and furniture!

Österreich - Current parliamentary inquiries in the Austrian National Council are the expenditure of the previous government in the spotlight. In particular, FPÖ general secretary Michael Schledlitz calls for comprehensive information about the costs of the ministries for catering and conversions. The inquiries concern a specific period, namely the third and fourth quarter 2024, and were particularly directed to the Ministry of Mobility, which was under the direction of Leonore Gewessler (Greens), which is still in focus on May 30, 2025.

The answers to the inquiries show that Gewessler spent 170,000 euros in the last quarter of food and drinks. There are also conversion costs of your office, which amounted to 2,304.13 euros. The purchases for office equipment can also be seen: In the third quarter, the Ministry invested 79,259.34 euros in electric desk tables and rotating chairs, while a further 39,474.49 euros were spent on equipment in the fourth quarter. Overall, the expenses for furniture, food and drinks amount to a proud 446,479.10 euros, which causes incomprehension among many citizens.

detailed expenditure overview

The hospitality costs in the Ministry of Mobility are also remarkable: in the third quarter, the costs were 169,828.55 euros, while these were reduced to EUR 157,916.72 in the fourth quarter. Such expenses raise questions about the efficiency and transparency of state funds, especially if you look at the financial challenges of the public sector.

In a broader framework, the discussion about government spending in Austria shows that the political landscape is characterized by intensive arguments. A central aspect of the financial debates is the Federal Balentment 2025, which was decided in July 2024 after long negotiations between the traffic lights, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Minister of Finance Christian Lindner. A central element of the agreement is the planned "global minor edition" of 17 billion euros, which should contribute to reducing new debt.

critical perspectives on the household

These austerity measures and their implementation are viewed critically. The conversion of grants to public companies such as Deutsche Bahn in loans is under discussion because these loans would not be counted towards the debt brake. Legal reports express doubts about the constitutionality of such measures, in particular on dealing with the funds of the gas price brake. These problems strengthen uncertainties about the government's scope for action and compliance with the household principles.

The Federal Audit Office controls the expenses according to random, which is of immense importance with regard to the complex budget structures. The debt brake, anchored in the Basic Law, only allows limited structural debt. The challenges that arise from the negotiations on budget reforms and the necessary savings remain a central topic in Austrian politics.

These developments illustrate that the discussion about government spending and financial policy goes far beyond the individual aspect of the ministry expenditure. They are part of a comprehensive debate about the financial future of the country and the responsibility of the political decision -makers. OE24 reports to make well-thought-out decisions, while BPB further analyzes on the methods and challenges of household management.