Greens to Chancellor Kurz: “Somebody like that is no longer fit for office”

The pressure on Austria’s Chancellor Kurz is growing: Indirectly, the green coalition partner has now also called for his resignation. In view of the corruption investigations, Kurz is “no longer able to officiate”.

In view of the new corruption allegations against the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the calls for resignation against the ÖVP boss are getting louder. The Greens – coalition partners of the ÖVP – also distanced themselves from Kurz.

“It is very clear that someone like that is no longer capable of office,” said the green parliamentary group leader Sigrid Maurer in Vienna. A continuation of the coalition with the conservative ÖVP is only possible without him in view of the serious corruption allegations against Chancellor Kurz. The ÖVP was now asked to nominate an “impeccable person” who could continue to run the government. Previously, the Greens had only questioned Kurz’s ability to act.

Greens meet with opposition

The public prosecutor’s office is investigating Kurz and some of his closest confidants on suspicion of corruption and infidelity. The team is said to have secured Kurz’s rise to the top of the party and state since 2016 through embellished surveys and bought media reports. For this, tax funds have flowed. The accused deny the allegations.

The Greens and the opposition are now exploring possible options. For example, Greens Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler met today for consultations with the other parliamentary parties. He first received the SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner, as reported by the Austrian news agency APA. “It is up to the Greens to decide whether they want to continue to support and support the Kurz system,” said Rendi-Wagner accordingly.

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also received the party leaders of the Greens, ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos. He wants to make a statement in the course of the day.

Parties could bring in a vote of no confidence

Next Tuesday, the parliament in Vienna will hold a special session in which the opposition intends to introduce a motion of censure against Kurz. So far, they have left it open whether the Greens will join the motion against their coalition partner.

ÖVP is behind Kurz

A simple majority – i.e. at least 92 of the 183 MPs – is sufficient to withdraw confidence from a member of the government by means of a motion of censure. The ÖVP currently holds 71 ​​seats in the National Council, deviating from its ranks is not to be expected. The party backed Kurz again today as “united and united”.

Kurz has already been pushed out of office by a vote of no confidence: In May 2019, a majority in parliament voted against the ÖVP boss and his entire government. At that time, new elections followed, which Kurz and his party clearly won.

If there is no new election, the Greens would need not only the votes of the social democratic SPÖ and the liberal Neos, but also the right-wing FPÖ for a multi-party government without ÖVP participation.