Austrian ex-chancellor Kurz convicted of false statements Legally smoking weed in Germany: almost nothing is left of the original idea

Austria’s former Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, was sentenced to an eight-month suspended sentence for making false statements. In its ruling on Friday, the Vienna Regional Court found it proven that Kurz had exercised greater influence in the appointment of the supervisory board of the state holding company Öbag than he had admitted before the Ibiza investigative committee in 2020.

The defendant wanted to give the impression that he had only been asked for his opinion on the matter. “This is something that is simply not addressed in the evidentiary process as a whole,” said Judge Michael Radasztics. Öbag manages state investments in several companies. The verdict is not yet legally binding.

The second defendant, former chief of staff Bernhard Bonelli, also received a six-month suspended sentence for making false statements.

In his last words in court, Kurz once again protested his innocence and explained that the proceedings were not based on his statements, but rather on an interpretation of his statements. Kurz told the investigative committee as head of the government at the time that he had been informed of the events but had not actively intervened. In the case of the appointment of Thomas Schmid, at the time Kurz’s confidante, as head of Öbag, the court spoke to the 37-year-old of the accusation False statement free. In his statements, Schmid “did not accuse the former chancellor as clearly as was often thought,” the judge continued.

Conviction is likely to provide campaign ammunition

The trial was followed with excitement in Austria. The Alpine Republic is heading into a super election year with local and state elections, the European elections and the National Council elections expected to take place at the end of September. The conviction of Kurz, who was very popular as chancellor and ÖVP leader, will likely provide campaign ammunition for his political opponents. “If an ex-chancellor is convicted, it will become a millstone for the ÖVP when it comes to corruption and cronyism,” says political advisor Thomas Hofer. The 37-year-old Kurz, who has now resigned and fundamentally left politics at the end of 2021, works as an entrepreneur; From 2017 to 2019, a coalition between the ÖVP and the right-wing FPÖ was at the top. From 2020 to 2021, he led an alliance between the ÖVP and the Greens. In connection with the Ibiza affair involving ex-vice chancellor and ex-FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, which came to light in 2019, parliament has set up a commission of inquiry into the “alleged venality of the black-blue government” . The committee should investigate suspicions of corruption and nepotism during the time of the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.

At the time of his statement in the summer of 2020, Kurz was more popular than ever, especially given his handling of the Corona crisis. He had always promised the citizens a ‘new style’, without the nepotism that was so widespread in Austria. This is considered a reason why he downplayed his influence on the Öbag occupation in the investigative committee.

A second trial is imminent

In its plea regarding the defendant’s possible motive, the prosecutor’s office said that Kurz had acted in this way for PR tactical reasons – “to avoid unwanted political and media criticism due to obvious haggling for jobs,” said chief prosecutor Georg Adamovic . A false statement is not a trivial offense, especially when a Chancellor is testifying before a parliamentary committee. According to prosecutors, Kurz did not fulfill the role model function of politicians. In addition to the current trial, the ex-chancellor is threatened with a second trial. In the so-called advertising affair, the then head of government and his team allegedly had false surveys carried out using taxpayers’ money. They would also have hoped for well-intentioned reporting by placing advertisements in various media. Ten suspects are being investigated on suspicion of bribery, corruption and breach of trust.

It was no coincidence that the opposition party SPÖ responded with a reference to the future. “This is rather a smaller location for the legal processing of the Kurz system,” says SPÖ politician Jan Krainer. The Kurz era will keep the courts busy for years to come. (sda/dpa)