Should South Tyrolean entrepreneurs receive the same (generous) Covid aid as their colleagues in Austria? Most MPs say: “No, because …”
By Matthias Kofler
South Tyrolean entrepreneurs look enviously to Austria, where companies in need receive subsidies of up to 30,000 euros from the state. Sven Knoll is convinced that South Tyrol should follow the example of the fatherland, which is why he submitted a corresponding proposal to the state parliament. “If politicians make the decision on the basis of epidemiological necessity that companies have to close, then there must also be corresponding compensation payments for the companies and workers,” demanded the member of the South Tyrolean Freedom Party. In order to support the affected companies, the state of Austria offers guarantees, fixed cost subsidies, loss compensation and lockdown sales compensation of up to 50 percent. “Unfortunately, things are looking bleak in South Tyrol, many companies have received little or no payments to date and are therefore in danger of becoming insolvent and having to file for bankruptcy,” warned Knoll.
Most MPs could do little with the motion. Maria Elisabeth Rieder (Team K) found a comparison with Austria problematic. The country could be more active with emergency aid; the criteria should be adjusted for this. Hanspeter Staffler from the Greens pointed out: “South Tyrol cannot take out loans on its own because it is constitutionally bound.” Even if one had the conditions for the replacement of sales, one would have to differentiate. A trading company with 100 employees has a lot more sales than a construction company with 100 employees.
SVP parliamentary group leader Gert Lanz said that Knoll was calling for measures that had already been taken. For example, there are fixed cost contributions and unbureaucratic loss contributions. The comparison with Austria limps, as more restrictive measures were in force there. “The motion blames the state government for the closings, which is not correct in view of the situation,” said Lanz angrily.
In addition to the SVP parliamentary group leader, Alessandro Urzì (Fratelli d’Italia) and Tourism Minister Arnold Schuler also considered the comparison with Austria to be inappropriate. There are different framework conditions, emphasized Schuler. The country has offered some support measures of its own accord and is planning further aid, even if it cannot be done to the same extent as Austria.
The application was rejected by a majority. Knoll’s comment: “We mustn’t talk ourselves out of the Italian state if we don’t have the courage to break away from it.”
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