Many questions remain unanswered: Benko speaks in the U-Committee about his relationship with Kurz

Many questions remain unanswered
Benko speaks in the U-Committee about his relationship with Kurz

May 22, 2024, 6:18 p.m

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René Benko’s relationships with politics are the focus of the Austrian parliament’s investigative committee. However, the investor wants to say as little as possible about this so as not to incriminate himself. Prosecutors are also interested in his business practices.

The ex-billionaire René Benko faced tough questioning in a committee of inquiry in the Austrian parliament. “I ask for your understanding that I will not address most of the questions in terms of content,” said Benko, dampening hopes for deeper insights right at the start of the meeting.

There are a number of complaints and allegations against the investor. By making statements to the committee, he could incriminate himself legally. During his questioning, Benko involved the U-Committee in lengthy procedural discussions and consulted with his lawyer for minutes on almost every question.

The committee is investigating the alleged preferential treatment of politically well-connected billionaires by the conservative ÖVP chancellor party and by financial authorities. The economic decline of the Signa Group, which has also expanded significantly in Germany in recent years, is not formally on the committee’s agenda.

Investor maintains good relations with ex-Chancellor Kurz

Benko was confronted with questions about his relationship with former Chancellor and ÖVP leader Sebastian Kurz. A few months before his appointment as Chancellor in the summer of 2017, Kurz attended a major event at a Signa property on Lake Garda as a guest, Benko said. Kurz stayed on Benko’s yacht even after he retired from politics, said the 47-year-old businessman. Sebastian Kurz was hired as a Signa consultant after he left politics, partly because of his good international contacts.

Benko did not want to answer questions about the tax classification of a Signa private jet, tax debts and possible political agreements surrounding Signa’s media participation, citing extensive investigations by the economic and corruption prosecutor. When Benko then refused to make statements about alleged prominent guests in a luxury chalet, the committee chairman announced that he would apply to the court for a fine of up to 1,000 euros for Benko.

Before his questioning, Benko walked past the numerous journalists into the meeting room without saying a word. He came accompanied by his lawyer and plainclothes police officers. The Austrian parliament had requested the support of the Interior Ministry after the founder of the real estate and trading group Signa had previously absented himself from the committee twice.