Cabinets: 364 Employees in Departments

This number was announced by ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS in a joint press release on Friday afternoon. At the same time, in response to a parliamentary inquiry, it was emphasized that the coalition of ÖVP and FPÖ had employed over 395 staff in May 2019, which is 31 more.

The Greens, in response, pointed out that the Federal Chancellery employs an additional 102 staff solely for press and public relations. While cuts are being made ruthlessly in areas concerning people and climate protection, the largest government of all time is also indulging in extremely bloated cabinets, wrote Deputy Club Chairwoman Alma Zadic in a press release.

Most of the currently active staff work in the cabinet of Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) with 35. The ministry emphasizes to the APA that the numbers cannot be compared, as unlike in other departments, the secretariat is also included here. In second place is the cabinet of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) with 29. The coalition emphasizes that this is eight fewer people than under FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl when he headed the interior department. VP Secretary General Nico Marchetti therefore calls the Freedom Party leader the "most expensive interior minister of all time." SP Federal Manager Klaus Seltenheim added that Kickl's police horses alone cost 2.4 million.

The FPÖ speaks of "false calculations" and suggests that the Kickl numbers also included those of State Secretary Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP). The ÖVP immediately denied this in a press release. Currently, nine people are employed under State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ). Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz sees this as a distraction maneuver from the worst and most expensive government of all time.

Cabinets cost 2.8 million

The government states that the total monthly costs of the current cabinets amount to 2.8 million euros. NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos assured that an efficient and responsible use of taxpayers' money is being practiced in the ministries.

Incidentally, the State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Josef Schellhorn (NEOS), has the smallest number of cabinet members with eight. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger herself has 20 staff. In addition, there are five for government coordination.

In the Chancellery, 28 cabinet members are reported. For the State Secretary and coordination, 19 more are added. Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler has 17 cabinet staff, and in the associated State Secretariat, including coordination, eleven.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.