However, after her grandmother's death, she has just inherited an additional 25 million euros, which she will receive in full since her country, Austria, has abolished inheritance tax on inheritances. She explains a decision she doesn't understand to the BBC, BFMTV reported. “The super rich are not super. They are just too rich, she said a few months ago. I want to pay taxes, not just for myself but in general. It is dangerous for democracy to cede power to the ultra-rich because they are unable to use that power in the public interest.”
50 citizens selected
Believing that she “inherited a fortune without doing anything for it,” while “many people struggle to make ends meet with a full-time job while having to pay taxes on every dollar they earn from their work.” , Marlene Engelhorn decided to act. “I see this as a failure of politics, and if politics fails, then the citizens themselves have to deal with it.”
Tens of thousands of randomly selected Austrian citizens received an invitation this Wednesday, January 10th. 50 people are selected from this sample, with 15 replacement members also being selected in the event of a resignation. In paid meetings they have to choose the best solutions to use this money “in the interest of society as a whole”.