Sebastian Kurz resigns as Austria's Chancellor - but remains a strong man in the ruling ÖVP party.
But even a party expulsion process could threaten.
News ticker.
Sebastian Kurz * resigned as Austria's Chancellor at the weekend.
The coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens wants to continue - Kurz's successor was sworn in on Monday
(update from 1:16 p.m.).
A new foreign minister will also take office
(update from October 11, 8:15 a.m.).
New Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg recently had positive trust values
(update from October 11th, 12.00 p.m.).
This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update from October 11th, 5:39 pm
: Sebastian Kurz addresses his successor in a post on Instagram: "I thank Alexander Schallenberg for his willingness to take on responsibility as Federal Chancellor, because this step ensures stability in the country." In conclusion, he adds, highlighting his own role positively: "That was also my goal in this difficult situation of the past few days."
There are only a few critical voices among his followers.
All the more positive answers and support for Kurz: “I took you very close to my heart and was very impressed by your demeanor and how you fought for our country.
I would like to continue to carry this image in me and hope that everything clears up in your favor, ”writes a user.
Your anger is directed more towards the opposition - as is the case with many supporters of Kurz in Austria at the moment: “Because I find all this power and these tirades of hate from the opposition simply disgusting.
Who is without guilt, throw the first stone, it said in the Bible. "
Sebastian Kurz: "I am not a shadow chancellor" with a view to Alexander Bellenberg
Update from October 11, 5:03 p.m.:
Sebastian Kurz does not see himself as a secret conservative ruler of Austria after his resignation as Chancellor.
“I'm not a shadow chancellor,” he wrote in an online message after the previous Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as the new Chancellor on Monday.
Kurz wrote that he would continue to support the work of the government as ÖVP party leader and future parliamentary group leader.
The opposition has previously criticized several times that with this allocation of posts the “Kurz system” will continue to exist.
Austria after brief resignation: Chancellor successor Schallenberg makes a direct statement
Update from October 11th, 2:55 p.m.:
Austria's new Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) made a telling statement in his first statement: Regardless of the corruption investigations against his predecessor and party friend Sebastian Kurz, Schallenberg also wants to pull together with him in the future.
"I think the allegations in the room are wrong," said Schallenberg on the Monday after his swearing-in: "I will of course work very closely with him."
+
Alexander Schellenberg at his new job - in the Austrian Federal Chancellery.
© Hans Punz / dpa
"Together with Vice Chancellor Kogler, I will now do everything I can to fill in the trenches that have arisen," said Schallenberg.
It is now a matter of implementing the agreement on a budget and a climate control model.
Kogler was satisfied with the personnel changes at the top of the government.
He assumes that "the chances are now very good again" to continue the coalition until the next regular election date in September 2024, he said.
Chancellor Brief History: Schallenberg “sworn in” - Federal President gives warning on the way
Update from October 11th, 1:16 p.m.:
The ceremony lasted only a quarter of an hour - Austria now officially has a new head of government. Alexander Schallenberg is sworn in as the successor to Sebastian Kurz, who was overthrown over allegations of corruption. Diplomat Michael Linhart succeeds Schallenberg in the office of Foreign Minister. He too was “sworn in” by Federal President Alexander van der Bellen.
Van der Bellen urged both politicians and the Green Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler to “concentrate” on their actions.
Austria continues to face major challenges, among other things, in the corona pandemic.
The newly formed government must ensure that the people's confidence in politics is restored.
"For my part, I trust that the coalition partners will succeed in creating a stable basis for stable intergovernmental cooperation," emphasized van der Bellen.
But who is Alexander Schallenberg, the newcomer to Austria's center of power?
You can read a detailed portrait of Alexander Schallenberg at
Merkur.de
*.
+
Alexander Schallenberg (right) is sworn in as Austria's Chancellor by Federal President Alexander van der Bellen.
© Georg Hochmuth / AFP
"I am relieving Sebastian Kurz as Federal Chancellor": Austria creates facts
Update from October 11th, 1:09 pm:
"Following your request, I rescind Sebastian Kurz as Federal Chancellor," van der Bellen addressed the politicians present - including Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens).
Schallenberg is also formally dismissed as foreign minister.
“I swear”, Schallenberg affirmed the formula of the oath.
Van der Bellen and the new Chancellor then signed.
The transfer of power in the Austrian Chancellery is now officially completed.
Schallenberg is now pursuing the swearing-in of his own successor and new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart with the certificate of appointment in hand.
Sebastian Kurz no longer Chancellor: Schallenberg's successor is sworn in in Vienna
Update from October 11th, 1:02 p.m .:
Austria's Federal President Alexander van der Bellen
swears
in the new Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) in these seconds: Schallenberg brings "the best qualifications for the office", he explains at the beginning of the ceremony - as a diplomat he knows how to bring opposites together. The new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart is also "sworn in", as it is called in Austria.
Update from October 11th, 12 noon:
In about an hour the "swearing in", that is, the swearing-in, of the new Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg begins. Afterwards, around 2 p.m., he wants to make a statement directly. According to the news portal
oe24.at, he is
one of the few ÖVP ministers with slightly positive trust values. The popularity ratings of most of the party's other government members have recently fallen sharply in the APA / OGM trust index. Most would have been in the red in September. Schallenberg was previously Foreign Minister and is now following Sebastian Kurz into the Chancellery. There is already a successor for foreign policy affairs
(see update from October 11, 8:15 a.m.).
Kurz resigns: Alexander Schallenberg is to become the new Chancellor of Austria
Update from October 11th, 10.19 a.m.:
Two days after Sebastian Kurz resigned from the office of Chancellor, Austria got a new head of government.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will swear in on 52-year-old Alexander Schallenberg as Chancellor on Monday.
Schallenberg has been jointly responsible for Austria's foreign policy in top positions for years.
The multilingual, internationally experienced diplomat is just as tough on migration issues as his predecessor in office.
An "enormously challenging task" awaits him, said Schallenberg on Sunday.
Austria gets a new chancellor - the foreign minister is also permanent
Update from October 11th, 8.15 a.m.:
The Austrian diplomat Michael Linhart is the new foreign minister of his country.
The previous ambassador in Paris is to be sworn in on Monday at 1 p.m., as reported by the APA news agency, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Linhart succeeds Alexander Schallenberg, who will also take his oath of office as Federal Chancellor at 1 p.m.
The personnel rogue is the result of Sebastian Kurz's resignation as Federal Chancellor, who is being investigated for corruption.
Austria: Federal President speaks up again with a request to the government
Update from October 10th, 7:06 p.m.:
After overcoming the government
crisis,
Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen urged the ÖVP and the Greens to work in a concentrated and objective manner. It is important to restore mutual trust, said Van der Bellen in Vienna that evening. The future Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler had assured him that there was a solid foundation for further cooperation. "Both are in their word," warned the head of state. "I am now expecting a phase of focused work."
Van der Bellen apologized to the citizens for the disrespect shown by the chats that had become known. Confidence in politics had again been massively shaken. "Words alone are not enough here," said the head of state and called on the political actors and above all the government to convince with deeds.
Update from October 10th, 6:35 pm:
After the resignation of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), according to Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, the coalition in Austria is supposed to open a "new common chapter." The most recent meeting with the new head of government Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) make him very confident, said Kogler (Greens) a few minutes ago in a statement in Vienna. According to the presidential chancellery, the previous foreign minister is to be sworn in as Austria's new chancellor on Monday at 1 p.m.
The alliance has already worked successfully, explained Kogler.
“As a government, we have achieved a lot together in the last few months.” The Green leader expressly thanked Kurz for his step.
The Greens had made the departure of the 35-year-old a prerequisite for continuing the cooperation.
However, it is doubtful whether the move will bring peace - Kurz remains a strong man of the ÖVP, meanwhile there is also criticism from within the party (
see initial report
).
Chancellor change in Austria on Monday - ÖVP is even thinking about expulsion for Kurz
Initial report:
Vienna - Austria is facing a quick change at the top of the government: ÖVP Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is to be sworn in as the successor to the resigned Chancellor Sebastian Kurz * on Monday afternoon, as it was announced in advance.
Werner Kogler, party leader of coalition partner Greens, and Austria's Federal President Alexander van der Bellen wanted to speak to the press on Sunday evening.
However, this is not likely to end the corruption affair for a while.
On the one hand, investigations are still ongoing against the previous Austrian head of government.
On the other hand, the opposition and parts of their own party continue to exert pressure.
There was talk on Sunday of a motion of no confidence in the ÖVP part of the government - and even of a possible party expulsion process against Kurz.
Sebastian Kurz: Opposition is outraged by the continuation of “System Kurz” - exclusion from the ÖVP party is also conceivable
One background to the excitement: Kurz is vacating his post as Chancellor, but as things stand, he will remain the ÖVP's puller.
He is likely to remain party leader and become the “club chairman”, that is, group chairman, of the conservatives in parliament.
According to the APA news agency, there will be one or more motions of censure at the special session of parliament on Tuesday, the content of which should be decided on Sunday.
It was initially unclear whether Kurz would then speak as ÖVP parliamentary group leader.
In return, the opposition publicly confirmed their plans. “The Kurz system will be continued. It is one in which there is structural corruption, ”said Lower Austria's SPÖ leader Franz Schnabl to the standard. He announced a motion of censure against the entire ÖVP government faction.
ÖVP regional leaders meanwhile increased the pressure.
The provincial governor of Vorarlberg announced “zero pardon” for a short time if criminal misconduct was confirmed.
"When judicial decisions come, when investigative authorities come to clear results," then you "don't have to discuss" with him, he emphasized in the Vorarlberg Live TV program.
As a party, you also have “a certain claim on how you treat each other,” he added, referring to the spicy formulations in the SMS Kurz '*.
The case also caused a stir internationally *.
In some cases, commentators at Kurz's rogue felt reminded of Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
Austria after Kurz 'Chancellor-off: Greens and ÖVP want to continue
Schallenberg and Kogler met on Sunday for a one-on-one conversation. It had been spoken “in a trusting atmosphere”, both then declared in a written statement. "The many projects that are planned, such as the eco-social tax reform * or the budget, will continue to be implemented as planned," it said.
On Wednesday it became known * that the economic and corruption prosecutor's office was investigating Kurz and some of his closest confidants on suspicion of breach of trust, bribery and corruption. The team is said to have secured Kurz's rise to the top of the ÖVP and government since 2016 through embellished surveys and bought positive media reports. In return, the newspaper
Österreich
is said to have received
lucrative orders for advertisements from the Ministry of Finance. Tax money should also have flowed in the process.
Kurz rejects the allegations and initially repeatedly refused to resign.
The Greens then threatened to support the opposition's motion of censure planned for Tuesday if Kurz stayed in office.
Thus everything was heading for a break in the coalition, and there were already considerations of a four-way coalition against the ÖVP.
This scenario, at least, now seems off the table.
(
fn / AFP
) *
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