Manuela Auer:

“Losses of 50 million are not peanuts”

There was a heated debate in the current hour about Hypo Vorarlberg's loan to Benko's Signa Group. The SPÖ, FPÖ, NEOS and also the Greens see Governor Markus Walllner (ÖVP) as having a duty. However, he does not see any omissions. 

Club leader Manuela Auer took a hard line with Governor Markus Wallner right at the start of the meeting. "Markus Wallner is someone who has driven the ostrich policy to perfection. He is a master of hiding and burying his head in the sand," raged the Social Democrat.

No interference in operational business
Auer's anger is also based on a very brief answer to a parliamentary question: "When it became known in November that Hypo had granted loans to Signa, we wanted to know what Wallner intended to do as the bank's financial officer and owner's representative. The answer was: I won't interfere in the operational business!"

As governor, Wallner should not wait until her party declares the problem to be the topic of the current hour to act. "I expect a resolute approach, even if the unsecured losses only amount to 50 million euros in the end. After all, that's not peanuts!"

Of course, there was also criticism from the other opposition parties. NEOS party leader Johannes Gasser referred to the tasks that Hypo should fulfill as a state bank: "Three quarters of the bank belongs to the people of Vorarlberg. It is therefore of general interest whether the bank operates in a risky manner." This is also shown by the resentment that can currently be felt among the population. Many families who are currently unable to obtain a loan are particularly annoyed. 

This also affects entrepreneurs, added FPÖ leader Christoph Bitsch. "We must ensure that the Landesbank is there for the people again," he demanded. Like Manuela Auer, Bitschi could not resist accusing the governor of a lack of crisis management. "We saw this with the Wirtschaftsbund case and it runs like a red thread. When things get tight, the governor goes into hiding," he said. 

Many of the answers presented by the Hypo board members on Monday had nothing to do with the banking secrecy behind which Wallner was hiding. "It's good to reflect. But if it takes a governor five days to demand clarification from a bank, that's too long!"

No support from the government partner 
In an election year, it is only natural that the opposition parties gratefully pounce on all possible mistakes or failures of a government. But even the small coalition partner did not leave a good mark on the loans granted to Signa.  

Eva Hammerer, head of the Green Party, was particularly annoyed by the bank's approach. "I want a model bank for Vorarlberg, not a financial institution that falls for Benko," she grumbled. Because while other banks had rejected loan applications, Hypo Vorarlberg of all banks had gone along with it. "130 million euros of taxpayers' money is now gone for the time being," Hammerer said angrily. Like the previous speakers, she called for an audit by the Court of Auditors. 

"That's not right" 
Eva Hammerer's words particularly infuriated ÖVP party chairman Roland Frühstück. "That's not true, the 130 million is not gone," he said indignantly. Despite all the prophecies of doom, the governor had also reacted very quickly: "After banking secrecy was lifted, it took less than two hours for him to take a stand."

The criticism from the NEOS and the FPÖ is equally incomprehensible. "If a house builder doesn't get a loan, it's not because of Signa, but because of the KIM ordinance, which stipulates strict lending guidelines," Frühstück said in annoyance. 

The governor also appeared somewhat disgruntled. "Neither the opposition nor the media decide when I say what," he said. He did not see it as his job to "cause a ruckus", but to look at things properly.

He also emphasized that not a cent of taxpayers' money would flow from the tax pot if a loss were to occur. "Hypo can handle this on its own." After all, Hypo Vorarlberg is a "real gem". The distributions to the state are also guaranteed and the next financial statements will be positive.