In a groundbreaking move, 31-year-old Austro-German heiress Marlene Engelhorn has initiated a unique citizens' group, the "Good Council for Redistribution," to decide on the allocation of €25m (£21.5m) from her inherited fortune. The granddaughter of BASF's founder, Engelhorn deems it unfair that Austria abolished inheritance tax in 2008, and she's taking matters into her own hands.

"I've inherited a fortune and power without earning it. The state doesn't even tax it," Engelhorn expressed, highlighting her dissatisfaction with the lack of wealth redistribution by politicians. Her grandmother, Traudl Engelhorn-Vechiatto, left an estimated $4.2bn (£3.3bn; €3.8bn) when she passed away in September 2022.

Engelhorn's move involves inviting 10,000 randomly selected Austrian citizens, aged over 16, to participate in the initiative. From this pool, 50 individuals will be chosen, along with 15 substitutes. Christoph Hofinger, Managing Director of the Foresight Institute supporting the project, emphasized diversity among the selected citizens, including age, social class, and background.

The chosen group will convene in Salzburg from March to June, engaging with academics and civil society organizations to brainstorm and develop solutions. The meetings will be accessible, offering childcare and interpreters, with travel costs covered. Participants will receive €1,200 for each weekend attended.

Engelhorn sees this as a "service to democracy" and believes participants should be compensated for their contributions. "I have no veto rights. I am putting my assets at the disposal of these 50 people and placing my trust in them," she stated.

If the group fails to reach a widely supported decision on how to distribute the funds, the money will revert to Engelhorn. The heiress initially expressed her intent to give away at least 90% of her inheritance in 2021, citing the randomness of the "birth lottery" as the reason behind her decision.

The initiative comes amid ongoing debates in Austria about the abolition of inheritance tax. The opposition Social Democrats advocate for its reinstatement, making it a potential negotiation point for the upcoming general election. However, the current coalition government led by the conservative People's Party rejects this proposal, emphasizing their commitment to relieving citizens of additional tax burdens.