VIENNA – The Austrian People’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced his resignation tonight after the corruption scandal that engulfed him. His post should be taken on an interim basis by the Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, announced Kurz himself. “It would be irresponsible to leave our country in chaos and stalemate, it would also be irresponsible to experiment with a four-party coalition that would depend on the graces of Herbert Kickl’s Freiheitlichen. I place the country’s interest before mine”, continued Kurz, announcing who will remain in parliament as group leader and leader of the Oevp People’s Party. “The allegations are false and I will prove it.” Kurz noted that the Greens, the party that supported the ruling coalition, took “a clear stand” against him.
Accuses him
The decision to leave has matured in the last few hours. Kurz had made it known until last night that he did not intend to leave. And he saw no reason to give up his post: he had indeed declared himself “capable and willing to act”, like his Popular Party (OevP). Kurz yesterday assured him that he will do everything to ensure political stability in the country, after the controversy following the searches of anti-corruption investigators in his offices, in the headquarters of the OeVP, and of the Ministry of Finance. The latter’s funds would be used to finance the publication of polls that responded to Kurz’s interests.
Austria, Chancellor Kurz under investigation for corruption and abuse of office
by our correspondent Tonia Mastrobuoni
But the pressure was too much: the President of the Republic already yesterday Alexander Van der Bellen he had made it clear that he would not tolerate the country’s political paralysis. “As long as no one has been legally convicted, the presumption of innocence applies but the Austrians also have the right to a government capable of acting – he said speaking to the nation – And the government’s ability to act has been questioned”
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