Eight months in prison on probation: Austria’s ex-Chancellor Kurz was found guilty in the false testimony trial in Vienna. However, the judgment is not yet final.
Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was sentenced to a suspended sentence of eight months for making false statements. The Vienna Regional Court considered it proven that Kurz 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.
The 37-year-old told the parliamentary committee of inquiry in June 2020 that he was informed about the events but did not actively intervene. ÖBAG manages the state’s investments in various companies.
The prosecution had also accused Kurz of providing false information about his influence on the appointment of his former close confidant Thomas Schmid as head of ÖBAG. In this case, the judge acquitted the former head of government of the charge of making false statements.
“Case clearly laid out”
The public prosecutor’s office had previously stated that Kurz had generally secured the right to veto and intervene in personnel decisions during his time in government. “Rarely has a case of false testimony been presented so clearly,” said senior public prosecutor Gregor Adamovic in his plea.
The fact that Kurz described himself as informed but not involved was due to concerns about bad press. The now 37-year-old responded this way for PR-tactical reasons, “to avoid unwanted political and media criticism for obvious job haggling,” said Adamovic.
A false statement is not a trivial offense, especially since it was a statement by a Federal Chancellor before a parliamentary committee. Kurz did not live up to the role model function of politicians.
Kurz denies allegations
Kurz’s defense had rejected all allegations and called for the ex-chancellor to be acquitted in his closing argument. He did not testify falsely in the investigative committee. The 37-year-old himself had criticized the trial against him as politically motivated.
In 2021, Kurz resigned as chancellor due to corruption allegations. These are considerably more serious than a false statement. They are linked to suspicions that officials in the ÖVP-led finance ministry used public funds to buy fake surveys and favorable reporting.
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating the ex-chancellor for breach of trust, corruption and bribery, but has not yet brought any charges.
Kurz now works for a number of international companies.
Oliver Soos, ARD Vienna, tagesschau, February 23, 2024 7:32 p.m