McI building stop: Mattle in criticism - what is now in Tyrol?

McI building stop: Mattle in criticism - what is now in Tyrol?

On December 13, 2023, Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) surprisingly stopped the new building of the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI), one of the largest building projects in Tyrol, which was affected with an estimated cost framework of 250 million euros. Mattle justified his decision with the "tense financial situation of the municipalities and the country" and stated in a social media video that the discussion about the project has now ended. These steps took place in a critical phase, as an important expert opinion on the takeover of the construction project by the Federal Immobilien Society (BIG) without a new advertisement, which according to Kurier Legal hurdles excluded and confirmed the possibility of "public-public cooperation".

The opposition is outraged by Mattle's approach. The club chairman of the Fritz list, Markus Sint, named the procedure "Bewage" and called for a special examination by the State Audit Office. Mattle rejected the allegations and emphasized that he did not know that the report was already available. MCI rector Andreas Altmann also said critically and asked how such a significant report not only kept secret, but also simply ignored. There have already been several controversy around the MCI project, which has been accompanied by breakdowns and disputes for several government periods. The new LHStV. Philip Wohlgemuth (SPÖ) is now responsible for the matter and emphasized the need for careful and economical handling of the funds, while the Tyrolean FPÖ boss Markus Abwerzger stimulated the MCI to think again

The secret report and their consequences

The report by Vienna's public procurement law expert Michael Breitenfeld, which is available to the courier, shows that a takeover by the BIG would have been legally possible and would not have been necessary to advertise. This contradicts the earlier assumptions of Innsbruck lawyers who considered the cooperation as not feasible. While the state of Tyrol and the Big thought about a possible cooperation, the idea was buried due to Mattles suddenly stopped by the project. The co-vived OGH guidelines conflict, which spoke against a new advertisement, leaves the future of the MCI and the use of taxpayers unclear. Questions about political responsibility and transparency in the handling of the project remain open, while the governor has to ask the allegations that are now burdening the political landscape in Tyrol.