As of: February 24, 2024, 9:43 a.m
By: Luke Rogalla
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A Vienna court found ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz guilty due to false testimony before the Ibiza investigative committee.
Update
from February 23rd, 10:58 p.m.:
Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz commented on his conviction for making false statements for the first time on Friday evening.
When the ex-ÖVP politician left the regional court in Vienna after the hearing, he took a short break in front of the court building to make a public statement.
First, he emphasized his acquittal on two counts of the indictment.
However, he was “very surprised” to be found guilty on the third count.
“I don’t think it’s fair either,” added the 37-year-old.
Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) speaks to journalists after the verdict in his trial.
© Heinz-Peter Bader/AP/dpa
Kurz was sentenced to a suspended sentence of eight months by the Vienna Regional Court on Friday.
The judge saw it as proven that Kurz had exercised greater influence in the appointment of the supervisory board of the state holding company Öbag than he had admitted to the Ibiza committee of inquiry in parliament.
Kurz protested his innocence in court.
The 37-year-old has already announced that he will challenge the court ruling against him and referred to the rule of law in Austria.
We have to wait and see how the second instance decides on the case.
At the end, he again assured the reporters that he had truthfully answered all the questions before the U-Committee.
Austria's ex-Chancellor Kurz convicted of making false statements
First report:
Vienna – Austria's ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been sentenced to a suspended sentence of eight months for making false statements.
In its ruling on Friday, the Vienna Regional Court considered it proven that Kurz had 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.
Öbag manages the state's investments in various companies.
Kurz told the parliamentary committee of inquiry in 2020 that he was informed about the events but did not actively intervene.
In the case of the appointment of his then Kurz confidant Thomas Schmid as head of Öbag, the judge acquitted the former head of government of the accusation of making false statements.
Super election year in Austria: The trial against Sebastian Kurz is being followed with excitement
The trial was followed with excitement in Austria.
The Alpine republic is facing a super election year with local and state elections, the European elections and the National Council election, which is expected to take place at the end of September.
The conviction of Kurz, who was very popular as chancellor and ÖVP leader, is likely to provide campaign ammunition for his political opponents.
“If an ex-chancellor is convicted, then it becomes a millstone for the ÖVP when it comes to corruption and nepotism,” says political consultant Thomas Hofer.
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Austria's ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appears at the regional court in Vienna.
© Helmut Fohringer/dpa
The 37-year-old Kurz, who now works as an entrepreneur after his resignation and fundamental departure from politics at the end of 2021, had always emphasized his innocence.
From 2017 to 2019 he headed a coalition between the ÖVP and the right-wing FPÖ.
From 2020 to 2021 he led an alliance between the ÖVP and the Greens.
In connection with the Ibiza affair involving ex-Vice Chancellor and ex-FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, which was exposed in 2019, parliament set up a committee of inquiry into the “alleged venality of the black-blue government”.
The committee should investigate suspicions of corruption and nepotism during the time of the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.
A second trial is imminent
At the time of his statement in the summer of 2020, Kurz was more popular than ever, especially given his management of the Corona crisis.
He had always promised the citizens a “new style” without the nepotism that was widespread in Austria.
This is one reason why he described his influence in the Öbag occupation as “informed” but not “involved” in the investigative committee.
Aside from the current trial, the ex-chancellor is threatened with a second trial.
In the so-called advertising affair, the then head of government and his team are said to have commissioned fake surveys with taxpayer money.
They are also said to have hoped for well-meaning coverage by placing advertisements in various media.
The investigation into suspicion of bribery, corruption and breach of trust is ongoing against ten suspects.
(dpa)