“Limit” of 200 million euros: the opposition demands the resignation of Blümels, who fights back

At the end of July, for example, in an email made available to the APA, the Ministry of Health “spontaneously” proposed a presentation by the Council of Ministers, according to which a “total cost framework of more than 200 million euros “. . “The Ministry of Finance changed the wording to” up to 200 million euros. “

“more than” versus “until”

In the Ministry of Finance, however, they do not want the money: the health department has not made any specific demand for more money. The Ministry of Finance refers to the budget requirements that the Department of Health reported to the Ministry of Finance in August 2020.

The corresponding Excel table shows 80 million euros for the corona vaccines for the previous year (2020) and 120 million euros for 2021. There was no need of more than 200 million euros in the 2021 budget, nor was it noted in the attached email. The Finance Ministry says there may be an additional need.

53 of 200 million euros accessed

According to the finance department, 53 million of the 200 million euros have been summoned for vaccination expenses (22 for 2020 and 31 for 2021). Other than that, it was always clear that there would be more money if needed. In the course of the pandemic, there are constant adjustments and increases, if there are additional budgetary requirements, reference was made, for example, to funds for short-term jobs. Compared to the Kronen newspaper a spokesperson also stated that the phrase “’more than’ is unfortunately not a correct budget estimate”.

Down versus up

The latter also admits the vice president of the Neos club, Gerald Loacker, but the opposition is outraged and called for a joint press conference on Thursday. The phrase “’more than’ is certainly not a professional approach,” says Loacker, but the Ministry of Health accepted it as the lower edge, and the Ministry of Finance later flipped this around as the upper edge, “and neither did that. access. “Loacker also does not accept that the limit was increased later, because the officers” went shopping “with the amount set at that time.