Care home operator clashes with governor over funding cuts and resident relocations
A dispute has erupted between Petra Wagner, operator of a care home in Rudersdorf, and Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil. The conflict follows the regional government's decision to end per diem funding for the facility and relocate its residents. Wagner has strongly rejected Doskozil's claims, calling them misleading and damaging to her staff and those in her care.
The legal battle began in 2025 when authorities declared the home 'no longer economically viable' and ordered its closure. Since then, court proceedings have delayed the process, leaving some residents still on-site while others have been moved to nearby facilities. Wagner initially tried to sell the care home to the state but failed to secure a deal. She later sold it to a company she owned for €2 million, reportedly making a personal profit of around €1.3 million. Throughout the process, she insisted she had followed all state regulations and operated within the government's guidelines.
The regional government's decision to terminate funding triggered a legal dispute. By March 2026, seven of the 17 residents had been relocated to other care homes, such as one in Mattersburg. The remaining ten stayed after successful appeals against the move. Wagner criticised Doskozil's statements as 'deeply disturbing,' arguing they had caused unnecessary distress among residents and employees.
Financial records show Wagner paid herself an annual managing director's salary of €190,000 gross in 2024. She also provided herself with a Mercedes as a company car. A former FPÖ member of the National Council, she maintained that Doskozil's understanding of the situation was inaccurate and that her actions had been fully compliant with the law.
The Landessozialamt had classified the home as financially unsustainable, but funding for residents continued on a per diem basis during the legal proceedings. Wagner's legal challenges have so far allowed part of the facility to remain operational, though its long-term future remains uncertain. The care home's status remains unresolved as court battles continue. Seven residents have already been moved, while ten remain in Rudersdorf after legal interventions. Wagner's financial dealings and the government's funding cuts have kept the dispute in the public eye, with no immediate end in sight.
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