A Green MEP makes a splash for “climate justice and action” after attending the Vienna Opera Ball, Austria.
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Lena Schilling showed up on the red carpet wearing a long, pale blue dress emblazoned with the slogan “ tax the rich save the climate”, while brandishing a banner proclaiming: “The world perishes in luxury. »
This media stunt is reminiscent of that of US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who went to the Met Gala in 2021 wearing a white dress covered with the slogan “TAX THE RICH”.
La robe « tax the rich » de Lena Schilling
“We cannot prevent the climate crisis as long as the ultra-rich live off tax-free estates as if there is no tomorrow, even as life becomes unaffordable for so many,” Schilling said in a statement sent to Euronews Green.
“They have no more gained this dynastic wealth than children threatened by poverty. This money would be much better invested in nurseries, public transport tickets and hospitals. »
Schilling blames OMV, one of Austria’s largest industrial companies, specializing in oil, gas and petrochemicals, and the main sponsor of the Vienna Opera Ball.
“The climate crisis will also affect everyone here, but climate damage is first felt by those who have the least money,” adds the MEP.
Since 1980, the extreme weather eventslinked to rising temperatures, caused some 738 billion euros in damage across Europe.
“Imagine what this money could have done for climate action, education and our health care system,” Schilling points out.
“My protest is obviously not aimed at the mother who proudly watches her daughter dance the opening waltz this evening. It targets the 400 ultra-rich in Austria, whose assets exceed 100 million euros and who profit from the destruction of our planet. »
Should Austria tax the ultra-rich?
On Instagram, the MEP urged her 40,000 subscribers to sign a petition asking the Austrian government to tax the ultra-rich “fairly”, in particular by restoring inheritance taxes, abolished in 2008.
“Those who are very rich can give more back to society,” the petition reads. “In most countries, there has been a tax on the ultra-rich for a long time. »
The Green Party cites the example of South Koreawhich is said to have received around 9 billion euros thanks to a single inheritance from the Lee family, founders of Samsung Electronics – which helped reduce taxes for mid-sized companies and finance essential infrastructure such as schools.
Samsung is among South Korea’s largest taxpayers, although the amount varies depending on its profitability. With a rate of 50%, South Korea’s inheritance tax is the second highest in the world after Japan.
“But how does this work in Austria? You work hard and earn 2,000 euros per month. Do you pay taxes on your income? Yes,” we read in the petition.
« [Mais] someone inherits 50 million euros. Do the ultra-rich pay taxes on it? No ! Do you think this is fair? »
What would an inheritance tax system look like in Austria?
Calls to reintroduce inheritance tax and wealth tax in Austria have increased in recent years. The Greens propose a reduction for inheritances of up to 1 million euros, or 1.5 million for real estate serving as a main residence.
Beyond that, any share of inheritance up to 5 million euros would be taxed at 25%, the rate rising to 30% for the bracket of 5 to 10 million euros, then to 35% beyond.
The party also says exceptions should be made for farms and small family businesses, adding: “The little plumber on the corner is not comparable to a group worth billions, owned by the richest families in the country. »
According to the Greens, such a tax would bring in at least 1.5 billion euros each year.
The petition cites and singles out ten ultra-rich individuals and families living in Austria, whose assets exceed 3 billion euros. They include Mark Mateschitz, who owns almost half of Red Bull, and Reinold Geiger, former CEO of L’Occitane en Provence.
