Austrian business leaders unite to oust WKO president over fees and trust crisis

From salary scandals to broken promises, Austria’s **business** elite is turning against its own chamber. Will the ÖVP finally break its silence—or lose control?

, and Administrator

2025 November 16 . 1:25 PM

1 min read

In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the... — In this image there is a conference in which there are people sitting in chair and listening to the people who are on the stage. It seems like an event in which there is a conversation between the media people and the owners. At the background there is a big hoarding and the wall beside it.

Austrian business leaders unite to oust WKO president over fees and trust crisis

Austrian business owners are publicly demanding the resignation of WKO President Harald Mahrer (ÖVP) due to high fees and perceived lack of value from the compulsory membership. The ÖVP has remained silent, but frustration is growing among business leaders, the far-right FPÖ, and the liberal NEOS. Several newspapers have called for Mahrer's resignation, warning of a 'clear loss of trust among entrepreneurs' in the ÖVP.

The storm centers around a 4.2% pay raise for WKO staff and increasing salaries of top executives. Mahrer's handling of collective bargaining salary increases, which he misleadingly framed as a 50% reduction, has also drawn criticism. Additionally, he holds multiple lucrative positions simultaneously, further fueling discontent. The FPÖ's economic wing, Freedom Economy (FW), plans to submit a major reform petition, arguing the WKO has become 'too cumbersome' to represent business interests. The NEOS-affiliated Economic Chamber faction, UNOS, proposes reducing the number of regional chambers and eliminating one of the two chamber levies.

With business owners, political parties, and media outlets calling for change, the pressure on Mahrer continues to mount. The ÖVP's silence and reports of eroding support within the party suggest a potential shift in the ongoing saga.