Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had his conviction for perjury thrown out by an appeals court. The court has ruled to overturn Kurz’s eight-month suspended prison sentence. This troublesome sentence was originally introduced because of rumors as to his role in the appointment of executives for the state owned holding company OBAG.
The lawsuit focused on allegations against Kurz for prioritizing political patronage in making appointments. He pressed further to say that he only got briefed about the new changes. In 2020, Kurz was forced to testify in front of a parliamentary commission of inquiry. He described it as being “engaged in the way of educated.” In a recent ruling, a judge found that he actually took a much more hands-on approach to the appointment process than he’d claimed.
Kurz has always denied any wrongdoing since the start of the legal proceedings. Following the court’s ruling, he expressed his relief, stating, “What has come out is what I have always said, namely that I did not tell any untruths in the committee of inquiry.”
As controversial as Kurz has been, he is still a formidable player in Austrian politics despite his legal woes. He led the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) to electoral victories in 2017 and 2019 and adopted a hardline stance on immigration issues, which resonated with voters and mirrored policies of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). His political career faced a new, serious obstacle in 2021. He was forced out of office due to a separate investigation into alleged corruption.
So far, prosecutors haven’t made a determination on whether to charge Kurz over these possible corruption-linked charges. At 38 years old, Kurz has not only left Austrian politics but the ÖVP as well. There is a faction among party members that would like to see him back—if the party leadership changes course.
Public sentiment towards Kurz is mixed. Polling shows a majority of Austrians opposed to his comeback. Polls show a strong majority of Austrians—some 93%—opposed to his return. It’s understandable that the public’s apprehension comes from his highly controversial tenure and current investigations into him.
