A Member of the European Parliament for the Greens is making a bold statement for “justice and climate action” after attending the Vienna Opera Ball in Austria.
Lena Schilling rocked up to the red carpet event wearing a pale blue gown emblazoned with the slogan ‘tax the rich save the climate’ – while holding a banner declaring: “The world is perishing in luxury.”
The stunt echoes the moves of US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who turned up to the Met Gala in 2021 wearing a white dress covered in the slogan ‘TAX THE RICH’.
Lena Schilling’s ‘tax the rich’ dress
“We cannot prevent the climate crisis as long as the super-rich live off untaxed inheritances as if there were no tomorrow, especially while life is becoming unaffordable for so many people,” Schilling says in a statement sent to Euronews Green.
“They did not earn this dynastic wealth any more than children at risk of poverty did. It would be better invested in kindergartens, public transport tickets and hospitals.”
Schilling called out OMV, one of Austria’s largest industrial companies that specialises in oil, gas and petrochemicals, which is the main sponsor for the Vienna Opera Ball.
“The climate crisis will affect everyone here too, but climate damage is felt first by those with the least money,” the MEP adds.
Since 1980, extreme weather – linked to rising temperatures – has triggered a staggering €738 billion in damage across Europe.
“Just imagine what that money could have done for climate action, education and our healthcare system,” Schilling says.
“My protest is obviously not about the mother proudly watching her daughter dance the opening waltz tonight. It’s about the 400 super-rich individuals in Austria with assets of more than €100 million who profit from the destruction of our planet.”
Should Austria tax the super-rich?
On Instagram, the MEP urged her 40,000 Instagram followers to sign a petition calling on the Austrian government to tax the super-rich “fairly”, including bringing back inheritance taxes which were abolished back in 2008.
“Those who are very rich can give back more to society,” the petition reads. “In most countries, there has long been a tax for the super-rich.”
The Green party uses the example of South Korea, which it says has collected around €9 billion through a single inheritance from Samsung Electronic’s founding Lee family – which has helped reduce taxes for medium-sized businesses and build vital infrastructure such as schools.
Samsung is one of South Korea’s largest taxpayers, though this varies depending on its profitability. At 50 per cent, South Korea’s inheritance tax rate is the world’s second-highest after Japan.
“But how is that in Austria? You work hard and earn €2,000 a month. Do you pay taxes on your income? Yes,” the petition reads.
“[But] someone inherits €50 million. Do the super-rich pay taxes for it? No! Do you think that’s fair?”
What would Austria’s inheritance tax system look like?
Calls to reinstate Austria’s inheritance and wealth tax have been getting louder in recent years. The Green party wants an allowance for inheritances up to €1 million, or €1.5 million on properties in which the main residence is registered.
After that, any inheritance up to €5 million would be subject to a 25 per cent tax, increasing to 30 per cent for inheritance between €5 million and €10 million – and 35 per cent for anything exceeding that.
It also says there should be exceptions for farms and small family businesses, adding: “The small plumber around the corner is not the same as a billion-dollar corporation in the hands of the richest families in the country.”
The Green party says such a tax would collect at least €1.5 billion every year.
The petition names and shames 10 super-rich people and families living in Austria, all of whom own assets exceeding €3 billion. This includes Mark Mateschitz, who owns almost half of Red Bull, and former CEO of L’Occitane en Provence, Reinold Geiger.
At the time of writing, the petition has garnered 9,418 signatures. You can find out more here.