The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, has announced his resignation as head of the Government in the midst of the crisis caused by accusations of corruption, although he will maintain his political aspirations despite the breakdown of the government coalition that he maintained with Los Verdes.
“Our coalition partner has decided to take a clear stance against me,” Kurz told a televised press conference. For this reason, he considers that they are in a “dead end” situation despite the fact that “the pandemic is not over yet, the economic crisis has only just begun and a drift into chaos for months would be irresponsible.”
That is why he has announced his resignation “putting the country’s interests before mine” and calling for “stability and responsibility.”
His position will be occupied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg , Kurz has announced in his brief appearance, in which no questions have been admitted.
After the press conference, the Minister of Agriculture, Elisabeth Koestinger , considered very close to Kurz, stressed that he is taking “a step aside” and that he will stay out of politics “until the accusations are clarified” .
Kurz and nine other people are accused of diverting public funds to the press company to further their political aspirations. In the last week the Prosecutor’s Office has registered several official headquarters.
As a result of the scandal, Los Verdes, a minority partner of the Kurz government, have requested his resignation and a motion of no confidence was scheduled for next Tuesday that now depends on the decision of Los Verdes, who could choose to give continuity to the Government with the Kurz’s Austrian People’s Party (OVP) without him at the helm.
Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) is preparing a four-way coalition that would include the controversial far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO).
Before learning of Kurz’s resignation, the Social Democratic leader, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, defended the possibility of renouncing her commitment not to collaborate with the FPO because “extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures,” according to statements to the public channel ORF. In addition to the FPO, the coalition would include Los Verdes and the liberal NEOS party.
