Eight months in prison on probation: Austria’s ex-Chancellor Kurz was found guilty in the false testimony trial in Vienna. However, the judgment is not yet final. Kurz announced that he would appeal.
Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was sentenced to a suspended sentence of eight months for making false statements. The Vienna Regional Court considered it proven that Kurz 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.
The 37-year-old told the parliamentary committee of inquiry in June 2020 that he was informed about the events but did not actively intervene. The defendant wanted to give the impression that he was only asked for his opinion at the time, said Judge Michael Radasztics. “This is something that is simply not covered in the evidence process as a whole.”
The prosecution had also accused Kurz of providing false information about his influence on the appointment of his former close confidant Thomas Schmid as head of ÖBAG. In this case, the judge acquitted the former head of government of the charge of making false statements. In his statements, Schmid “did not incriminate the former chancellor as clearly as was often perceived,” said the judge.
ÖBAG manages the state’s investments in various companies. The verdict is not yet legally binding. Kurz announced that he would appeal against it.
“Case clearly laid out”
The public prosecutor’s office had previously stated in its plea that Kurz had generally secured the right to veto and intervene in personnel decisions during his time in government. “Rarely has a case of false testimony been presented so clearly,” said Senior Public Prosecutor Gregor Adamovic.
The fact that Kurz described himself as informed but not involved was due to concerns about bad press. The now 37-year-old responded this way for PR-tactical reasons, “to avoid unwanted political and media criticism for obvious job haggling,” said Adamovic.
A false statement is not a trivial offense, especially since it was a statement by a Federal Chancellor before a parliamentary committee. Kurz did not live up to the role model function of politicians.
Kurz denies allegations
Kurz described his conviction for making false statements as unfair. “It surprised me very much. I don’t think it’s fair either,” he said in the Vienna district court. “I am very optimistic that we will be right in a second instance,” said the former conservative head of government. His defense lawyers had previously announced an appeal against the verdict.
Kurz’s defense had rejected all allegations and called for the ex-chancellor to be acquitted in his closing argument. The 37-year-old himself had criticized the trial against him as politically motivated. In his closing words in court, he once again protested his innocence and said that the proceedings were based not on his statements, but rather on an interpretation of his statements.
In 2021, Kurz resigned as chancellor due to corruption allegations. These are considerably more serious than a false statement. They are linked to suspicions that officials in the ÖVP-led finance ministry used public funds to buy fake surveys and favorable reporting.
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating the ex-chancellor for breach of trust, corruption and bribery, but has not yet brought any charges.
Kurz now works for a number of international companies.
Silke Hahne, ARD Vienna, tagesschau, February 23, 2024 11:17 p.m