Linz: Debate over "luxury social housing" for Haimbuchner's confidants

Allegations have surfaced regarding the sale of state-owned cooperative apartments in Upper Austria at suspiciously low prices to individuals closely associated with Deputy Governor Manfred Haimbuchner. A report by "derstandard.at" claims that these so-called "luxury social apartments" were sold well below market value in 2012.

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Mr. Deputy Governor, explain yourself - does this only look like cronyism, or is it actually such?

Opposition parties SPÖ, the Greens, and Neos have reacted strongly, demanding complete transparency and a thorough investigation into the transactions. They question whether these sales constitute "cronyism" and are calling for the disclosure of all allocation, valuation, and funding records. The parties suggest that if the accusations are proven true, significant personnel and political consequences would be necessary.

According to the report, one individual, an employee in Haimbuchner's office at the time when he served as State Councilor for Housing Promotion, allegedly received 65,000 euros in subsidies funded by taxpayers. Another individual, a former FPÖ representative, reportedly purchased a 160-square-meter penthouse for 536,000 euros.

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we are convinced that apartments in Upper Austria are sold legally and in the best social and financial interests, depending on the legal background, i.e. privately financed or subsidized.

Haimbuchner's office has responded to the allegations, stating their conviction that all apartment sales in Upper Austria, whether privately financed or subsidized, are conducted legally and in the best social and financial interest. The office emphasized that Haimbuchner himself was not responsible for the sale or allocation of apartments and warned that any further "incriminating false claims" would be subject to legal review.

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Any further incriminating false claim will be immediately subjected to legal review.