Status: 10/14/2021 10:49 a.m.
Ex-Chancellor Kurz was sworn in as a member of the National Council after his resignation. He enjoys immunity – but that could change. Meanwhile, an opinion pollster arrested in the course of the corruption affair is free again.
After his resignation as Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz was sworn in as a member of parliament. Despite the corruption investigations, Kurz remains party leader of the conservative ÖVP and will in future lead the parliamentary group in the National Council.
With the move to parliament, the 35-year-old initially enjoys immunity. However, at the request of the public prosecutor’s office, parliament can decide to repeal this. However, Kurz has already announced that he wants to forego immunity.
Investigations are ongoing
Against short there are two preliminary investigations. On the one hand, the public prosecutor is investigating the suspicion of a false testimony in the Ibiza investigation committee, which investigated corruption in the public sector.
On the other hand, the investigators are investigating the suspicion that Kurz and his leadership circle bought positive media reports and embellished surveys with tax money. A total of ten people are being investigated on suspicion of infidelity, bribery and corruption. Kurz denies the allegations.
U committee should also examine
A parliamentary committee of inquiry also wants to scrutinize the alleged machinations of Kurz and his team. The “ÖVP Corruption Investigation Committee” should ideally be set up in November, said representatives of the opposition in Vienna on Wednesday. So far, only the tip of the iceberg has become visible, said SPÖ MP Jan Krainer.
Poll researcher free again
A pollster who had previously been arrested has now been released. As the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) confirmed, the woman was released again. She had been arrested two days earlier – according to media reports because of the risk of blackout. The reasons for the release were not disclosed. The public prosecutor suspects the pollster to have played a central role in the creation of embellished surveys for the benefit of the ÖVP, which were then placed in the media. Tax money is said to have been embezzled for this.
Schallenberg new Chancellor
Because of the corruption affair, the co-ruling Greens in Austria had called for Kurz to be replaced. On Monday, the previous Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as his successor in the Chancellery.
He announced a continuation of his predecessor’s course. Schallenberg said in his government statement that he would act “in close coordination” with his ÖVP party colleague.