Eight months probation
Austria’s ex-Chancellor Kurz convicted of making false statements
February 23, 2024, 7:12 p.m
As part of the Ibiza affair, the former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appears before a committee of inquiry. There he emphasizes that he had no influence on the appointment of government-related positions. This is now proving to be wrong in court.
Austria’s former chancellor Sebastian Kurz was sentenced to eight months’ probation for making false statements. In its ruling, the Vienna Regional Court considered it proven that Kurz had exercised greater influence in the appointment of the supervisory board of the state holding company Öbag than he had admitted to the Ibiza investigative committee. Öbag manages the state’s investments in various companies. Kurz told the parliamentary committee of inquiry in 2020 that he was informed about the events but did not actively intervene.
In the case of the appointment of Kurz’s then confidant Thomas Schmid as head of Öbag, the judge acquitted the former head of government of the accusation of making false statements. The trial was followed with excitement in Austria. The Alpine republic is facing a super election year with local and state elections, the European elections and the National Council election, which is expected to take place at the end of September. The conviction of Kurz, who was very popular as chancellor and VP leader, is likely to provide campaign ammunition for political opponents. “If an ex-chancellor is convicted, then that becomes a millstone for the ÖVP in terms of corruption and nepotism,” says political consultant Thomas Hofer.
The 37-year-old Kurz, who is now working as an entrepreneur after his resignation and fundamental departure from politics at the end of 2021, had always emphasized his innocence. From 2017 to 2019 he headed a coalition between the ÖVP and the right-wing FPÖ. From 2020 to 2021 he led an alliance between the ÖVP and the Greens. In connection with the Ibiza affair, which was exposed in 2019, involving ex-Vice Chancellor and ex-FPÖ-leader Heinz-Christian Strache, Parliament set up a committee of inquiry into the “alleged venality of the black-blue government”. The committee should investigate suspicions of corruption and nepotism at the time of the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.
Stand for a “new style”
At the time of his statement in the summer of 2020, Kurz was more popular than ever, especially given his management of the Corona crisis. He had always promised the citizens a “new style” without the nepotism that was widespread in Austria. This is one reason why he described his influence in the Öbag occupation as “informed” but not “involved” in the investigative committee.
Aside from the current trial, the ex-chancellor is threatened with a second trial. In the so-called advertising affair, the then head of government and his team are said to have commissioned fake surveys using tax money. They are also said to have hoped for well-meaning coverage by placing advertisements in various media. The investigation into suspicion of bribery, corruption and breach of trust is underway against ten suspects.