Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigns from all political posts | News from Germany about Europe

Sebastian Kurz, who left the post of Austrian chancellor in October, leaves politics altogether after almost two months. On Thursday, December 2, he announced to reporters in Vienna that he was stepping down as head of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ANP) and faction leader in parliament.

Admitting that he, like everyone, made mistakes in his ten years in politics, 35-year-old Kurz said that he always tried to do everything in his power. Recently, however, the ex-chancellor admitted, his enthusiasm for politics has dwindled, largely due to the accusations and court proceedings against him. Kurz promised to refute the charges against him.

As the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung wrote, the last impetus for Kurz’s resignation was the birth of his son a few days ago. According to the newspaper, the former head of government already has a high position in the private sector in mind.

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer is expected to become the new leader of the ruling ANP in Austria.

The youngest chancellor of Austria

Sebastian Kurz was first elected Chancellor of Austria in December 2017 at the age of 31, becoming the youngest head of the Austrian cabinet. In May 2019, a vote of no confidence was passed in his government amid a scandal dubbed Ibizagate. Then Kurz resigned from the post of chancellor, but took it back after early parliamentary elections.

On October 9, 2021, Kurz announced his resignation from the post of head of the Austrian government, remaining the leader of the Austrian People’s Party and a member of parliament.

On November 18, the National Council of Austria stripped the former chancellor of parliamentary immunity in connection with the investigation of corruption charges against the politician. Kurz and his entourage are suspected of bribing the Austrian newspaper Österreich to publish positive articles about him and his party there, as well as bribery and abuse of office from 2016 to 2018. Sebastian Kurtz himself strongly denies the charges against him.

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Author: Karla Blaker, Evgeny Zhukov