“We see a reduction in the need for security,” Hanke described the current situation on the electricity exchange in “Vienna Today”. “But it could well be that things will look different in a week or two.” So far, Wien Energie has not had to use the federal credit line.
Hanke doesn’t want any documents in the finance committee
Nevertheless, as a condition for this, the City of Vienna must deliver all documents on futures transactions by Wien Energie to the federal government by September 15th. The ÖVP also wants these documents in the city’s finance committee, which takes place a few days beforehand.
However, Hanke rejects this request. “I also believe that not everything can be carried over into day-to-day political work. Acting with seriousness between politics and business is the order of the day and that should not be neglected in this form,” said the city councilor on the sidelines of a media event on the conversion of the substation in Vienna-Auhof.
Tests are ongoing at Wien Energie
Several parties are currently investigating whether Wien Energie acted correctly. “Vienna Today” shows what is looked at in such an examination.
Court of Auditors prepares audit
The business conduct of Wien Energie is also checked by the City Audit Office and the Audit Office. There it is said that the test is currently being prepared, and one does not want to say more about an ongoing process. In principle, however, the “financial situation, the financial requirements and transparency in the light of security of supply (…) should be central questions”, as the Court of Auditors announced at the end of August.
In general, the Court of Auditors sets priorities for audits, and there is often a questionnaire for the authority or public company concerned. Questionnaires are also carried out and the documents required for the examination are requested.
Pelinka sees Ludwig’s “first serious mistake”.
The renowned political scientist and SPÖ expert Anton Pelinka meanwhile sees the Wien Energie case as the “first serious mistake” by Vienna’s SPÖ Mayor Michael Ludwig. “That he didn’t realize in time that something could explode, which will definitely fall on the Viennese SPÖ and him now,” said Pelinka in the APA interview. He couldn’t imagine how Ludwig “could have overlooked that,” says Pelinka.
The mayor of Vienna should have “go on the offensive of his own accord” and hold a press conference, said the political scientist. Pelinka also lacked the “readiness for self-criticism” and the “offer to cooperate with the federal government” and he detected a certain aloofness of the city SPÖ.
“The message shouldn’t have come from ÖVP Finance Minister Magnus Brunner, but from the Mayor of Vienna,” Pelinka said. In fact, the federal ÖVP can “consider these things politically with pleasure”, said Pelinka. “That harms the Viennese SPÖ. And it won’t go away any time soon either.” The political expert did not initially see a negative impact on the federal SPÖ.
Doskozil locates political damage for SPÖ
The head of the SPÖ and governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil, sees “political damage” to social democracy as a result of the Wien Energie case. In the “Krone” interview (Friday edition), he explained that as an owner you have to exercise competence and put experts in the right places: “You can no longer afford that officials are taken care of.”
After the audit by the Court of Auditors, the time was right for consequences, the governor stated, but: “The political damage has of course been done for social democracy – one has to say that frankly. Also in view of the fact that the prices and the fees will be increased.”