VIENNA: Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is scheduled to stand trial over allegations of making false statements during a parliamentary inquiry into suspected corruption during his tenure as head of government on Wednesday.
The charges revolve around Kurz’s testimony to the parliamentary inquiry that scrutinized the coalition government he led from 2017. During this period, the conservative People’s Party, under Kurz’s leadership, formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party, which eventually crumbled in 2019.
The turning point leading to the government’s collapse was a video that surfaced, implicating the vice chancellor and Freedom Party leader at the time, Heinz-Christian Strache, in alleged favours offered to a supposed Russian investor. Subsequently, Kurz decided to terminate the coalition.
Kurz faces accusations of providing false evidence in June 2020 regarding his involvement in establishing and appointing the leadership of a holding company called OeBAG, responsible for managing the state’s role in several enterprises. The charge of offering false evidence carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Throughout the proceedings, Kurz has consistently maintained his innocence.
Following the collapse of his initial government, Kurz made a political comeback by forming a new coalition with the environmentalist Greens in early 2020. However, his return to power was short-lived, as he resigned as chancellor in October 2021. The Green Party had advocated for his replacement after prosecutors disclosed that Kurz was the subject of a second investigation related to alleged bribery and breach of trust.
Kurz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in connection with this case as well.
The initial hearings in Kurz’s trial are set to commence on Wednesday and are expected to span several weeks, encompassing sessions on Wednesday, Friday, and the following Monday. The Austrian public and the global community are closely monitoring the trial, as it holds significant implications for the nation’s political landscape and the reputation of its former leader.
