Rechnungshof: the head of Austrian statistics proposes a reform

Rechnungshof: the head of Austrian statistics proposes a reform

VIENNA. The Federal Chancellery denies having the intention to take over the communication of the Statistical Office.

Konrad Pesendorfer Image: APA / HERBERT PFARRHOFER

Following indications that the largely independent Austrian statistical office should be more closely linked to the Federal Chancellery as part of a reform, the director general of the federal institution, Konrad Pesendorfer, rose to l & # 39; offensive.

In a letter to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (Vice-President) and the National Council, Pesendorfer proposed to anchor the Statistical Office on the model of the Court of Auditors. As a result, Statistics Austria would no longer be submitted to the Chancellery, but to the National Council. He should also elect the president by a "two-thirds majority" with "full responsibility and fiscal responsibility". Annual parliamentary statistics programs and annual reports must also be ratified by Parliament.

Pesendorfer, who was himself head of Statistics Austria in 2010 as economic policy advisor to former Chancellor Werner Faymann (SP), thus ensured the independence of the company. institution with its 800 employees. Support for Pesendorfer, whose contract is not renewed, came immediately from the opposition. For now, the director of the club, Bruno Rossmann, worked with the model of Court of Auditors "auszuschlieen according to his desires".

Anyway, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, boss of Neos, wants to prevent the advertising work of Statistics Austria to land in the offices of the Chancellor. Because if the office decides, "what are the figures, data and facts reported, the way to lead democracy is not very far". Exactly to this accusation came yesterday a clear denial of Ballhausplatz. It is expected "no regulation of public relations in the Chancery," said government spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal. He presented a provisional report of the internal reform group. Statistics Austria's press office should be reduced from eight to two "full-time equivalents" because it will focus again on media work. The proposal of Pesendorfer wanted – as well as that of the President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (VP) – not to comment.

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