Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigns accused of corruption

The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, has announced its resignation as head of government in the midst of the crisis caused by accusations of corruption, although he will maintain his political aspirations despite the breakdown of the government coalition he had with Los Verdes.

Kurz, who denies the allegations, was willing to continue governing with your coalition partner But the left-wing party had claimed that the investigation made it impossible for him to continue as chancellor and had asked his party to name an "irreproachable" successor.

"Our coalition partner has decided to take a clear stance against me," Kurz told a televised press conference. Therefore, it considers that they are in a "dead end" situation Despite the fact that "the pandemic is not over yet, the economic crisis has only just begun and a drift into chaos for months would be irresponsible."

For this reason, Kurz has announced his resignation "putting the interests of the country before mine" and calling for "stability and responsibility". His position will be filled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg Kurz announced in his brief appearance, in which no questions were admitted.

Kurz will now move to the post of parliamentary spokesperson for the Austrian People's Party, the (ÖVP), a movement with which he intends prevent an alliance from forming against your formation, with environmentalists and social democratic, liberal and far-right opponents. Regarding the accusations of the anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office against him, Kurz stressed once again that they are "false" allegations and he has been "sure" that he can "shed some light."

"One step aside"

After the press conference, the Minister of Agriculture, Elisabeth Koestinger, considered very close to Kurz, has stressed that he is giving "one step aside" and that it will stay out of politics "until the allegations are cleared up."

Kurz and nine other people are accused of diverting public funds to a newspaper company to further his political aspirations. In the last week the Prosecutor's Office has registered several official headquarters, including the headquarters of the ÖVP and the Chancellery.

According to the investigation, between 2016 and 2018, "partially manipulated" articles and opinion studies were published in exchange for the purchase of advertising space by the Ministry of Finance, which at that time was managed by the conservatives.

As a result of the scandal, Los Verdes, a minority partner of the Kurz government, have asked for his resignation and was a motion of no confidence is scheduled for next Tuesday that now depends on the decision of the Greens, who could choose to give continuity to the Government with Kurz's ÖVP already without him at the head and with Schallenberg as chancellor.

Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) prepares a four-way coalition that would include the controversial far-right party Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). The Social Democratic leader, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, defended before knowing the resignation of Kurz the possibility of renouncing his commitment not to collaborate with the FPÖ because "extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures", according to statements to the public channel ORF. In addition to the FPÖ, the coalition would include Los Verdes and the liberal NEOS party.

Sebastian Kurz, 35, entered the Government ten years ago as Secretary of State, to later become Foreign Minister. In December 2017 he assumed the chancellorship for the first time, after an agreement with the extreme right, but in May 2019 he was removed by Parliament in a motion of no confidence by a scandal of corruption that peppered his government partners.

In January 2020 he returned to power, this time hand in hand with The Greens, a coalition that has experienced moments of tension due to their differences of opinion on issues such as refugees.