Former Austrian PM Kurz convicted of lying to parliament

Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz found guilty of making false statements to parliament, receives suspended sentence

Late on Friday, an Austrian court found Sebastian Kurz, the former chancellor of the country, guilty of making false statements to a parliamentary investigatory committee.

Judge Michael Radasztics delivered an eight-month suspended sentence to Kurz, 37, for misleading parliament under oath during a 2020 investigation into his government.

Kurz is expected to appeal the felony conviction, a process that could extend over several years. However, prospects for a political return for Kurz, who is currently employed as a consultant in the private sector, appear dim.

Kurz’s swift rise from a relatively unknown youth leader to chancellor came to an abrupt halt in October 2021 when he resigned amid a series of corruption allegations.

The charges against Kurz stemmed from allegations of providing false testimony to parliament while appearing before a special committee investigating his alleged involvement in selecting a new head for the state holding company, OBAG.

Despite Kurz’s claims to the contrary, the prosecution presented private text exchanges among the former chancellor, his aides, and other associates, which suggested a different narrative.

In addition to this case, prosecutors suspect Kurz of using public funds to finance altered public opinion polls, although formal charges have not been brought in this matter. Kurz maintains his innocence in this regard.

Source: Newsroom

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