Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been charged with giving a false statement, according to the Austrian prosecutor’s office for economic crimes and corruption (WKStA). The 36-year-old resigned in 2021 amidst allegations following the “Ibizagate” scandal, which involved the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), Kurz’s former coalition partner.
The charges against Kurz are related to his statements to an investigative committee of the Austrian parliament. Kurz is accused of downplaying his involvement in the appointment of Thomas Schmid as the boss of the state holding company Öbag in June 2020. He claimed to have been informed in advance about the decision but denied any further participation. However, evidence from chat messages suggests that Kurz played a more significant role in the appointment.
The charge of giving false evidence carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years. Schmid, who was once a close confidant of Kurz, has reportedly informed prosecutors that Kurz was aware of the embezzlement of public funds between 2016 and 2018, allegedly to advance his own position. This information was leaked to the media. It is alleged that the tabloid newspaper “Today” published flattering articles in exchange for publicly-funded advertisements.
In response to the impending charges, Kurz took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to express his lack of surprise. He stated that despite 30 exculpatory testimonies, the prosecutors had decided to file a criminal complaint. Kurz firmly denied the accusations and expressed confidence that the truth would be revealed in court.
Sebastian Kurz was once considered a rising star among Europe’s conservatives. He led two coalitions in Austria, the first starting when he was just 31 years old. The investigative committee was examining alleged corruption within the first coalition that Kurz, as the head of the conservative People’s Party, led from 2017 until its collapse in 2019. The government ended after a video surfaced showing the then Vice-Chancellor and FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache seemingly offering favors to a supposed Russian investor.
Following the collapse of the first coalition, Kurz formed a government with the ÖVP and the Greens in 2020. However, he stepped down in October 2021 due to accusations surrounding the newspaper advertisements. A few months later, Kurz announced his complete departure from politics and has since ventured into entrepreneurship and lobbying.
The upcoming trial will shed light on the allegations against Kurz and determine whether he is found guilty of giving false evidence. Regardless of the outcome, these charges mark another significant development in the dramatic career of Sebastian Kurz, once hailed as a right-wing ‘Wunderkind’ and now facing legal battles.