SHARE
COPY LINK

POLITICS

Austria’s ex-chancellor Kurz quits politics

Austria's ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced he is leaving politics during a press conference on Thursday morning.

Sebastian Kurz
Austria's former chancellor Sebastian Kurz is being put on trial in corruption scandal (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

The conservative, who became the world’s youngest democratically elected head of government aged 31 in 2017, announced during a press conference at 11:30 am that he is resigning as head of his party and as a lawmaker.

Kurz described the last few months as “an incredibly tense time” and a “rollercoaster of emotions”. He said the recent birth of his son made him realise he no longer wanted to be in politics.

In reference to the allegations against him, Kurz described himself as “neither a saint nor a criminal” but maintained that the allegations are false.

“A new chapter begins in my life that I can open today,” the 35-year-old conservative told reporters. “Above all, I look forward to spending time with my family and my child before I dedicate myself to new professional challenges in
the new year.”

“Today’s decision was not easy for me,” he told reporters, adding that having to fight corruption allegations against him had taken a heavy toll and diminished his “passion” for politics.

Tomorrow, Kurz will convene a meeting of the Federal Party Executive when he will hand over his role as ÖVP Chairman to August Wöginger. 

Der Standard is already reporting that government circles have said Federal Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer will become the next Federal Chancellor of Austria.

In a spectacular turn of events, the now 35-year-old Kurz stepped down as chancellor in October, shortly after he was implicated in a sweeping corruption investigation. He was replaced by former Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, but remained head of his party, the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP).

He has repeatedly dismissed any allegation of wrongdoing and became a member of parliament after resigning as chancellor.

Tabloid newspaper Kronen Zeitung recently cited sources close to Kurz as saying that the recent birth of his son made him want to step back from politics. The report was confirmed by Austrian news agency APA. 

READ ALSO: Comeback Kurz? Why you shouldn’t count Austria’s ex-chancellor out just yet

Kurz over the weekend announced on Facebook the birth of his son Konstantin, saying the family “was enjoying our time.”

The corruption scandal erupted in October when prosecutors ordered raids at the chancellery and the finance ministry while investigating allegations that Kurz’s inner circle used public money to pay for polls skewed to boost his image.

READ ALSO: Who’s who in Austrian politics?

Prosecutors also suspect that in return for the polls, and fawning coverage of Kurz, tabloid Österreich received lucrative public adverts. Prosecutors say that Kurz and nine other individuals, as well as three organisations are under investigation over the affair.

Kurz’s coalition with the far-right collapsed in 2019 when his ally became engulfed in a corruption scandal, leading to fresh elections. Those returned Kurz as chancellor, this time heading an administration with the Greens.

Following Kurz’s announcement, his own party colleagues as well as some opposition politicians expressed support. President Alexander Van der Bellen said he thanked Kurz in a telephone call for the “good and trustful cooperation”.

Kurz’s former deputy, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, said he had “great respect” for Kurz’s decision.

“Despite all the differences, we have achieved a lot together,” he tweeted.

More on this story:

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

HEALTH

Danish parties agree to raise abortion limit to 18 weeks

Denmark's government has struck a deal with four other parties to raise the point in a pregnancy from which a foetus can be aborted from 12 weeks to 18 weeks, in the first big change to Danish abortion law in 50 years.

Danish parties agree to raise abortion limit to 18 weeks

The government struck the deal with the Socialist Left Party, the Red Green Alliance, the Social Liberal Party and the Alternative party, last week with the formal announcement made on Monday  

“In terms of health, there is no evidence for the current week limit, nor is there anything to suggest that there will be significantly more or later abortions by moving the week limit,” Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister of the Interior and Health, said in a press release announcing the deal.

The move follows the recommendations of Denmark’s Ethics Council, which in September 2023 proposed raising the term limit, pointing out that Denmark had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Western Europe. 

READ ALSO: 

Under the deal, the seven parties, together with the Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives, have also entered into an agreement to replace the five regional abortion bodies with a new national abortion board, which will be based in Aarhus. 

From July 1st, 2025, this new board will be able to grant permission for abortions after the 18th week of pregnancy if there are special considerations to take into account. 

The parties have also agreed to grant 15-17-year-olds the right to have an abortion without parental consent or permission from the abortion board.

Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s minister for Digitalization and Equality, said in the press release that this followed logically from the age of sexual consent, which is 15 years old in Denmark. 

“Choosing whether to have an abortion is a difficult situation, and I hope that young women would get the support of their parents. But if there is disagreement, it must ultimately be the young woman’s own decision whether she wants to be a mother,” she said. 

The bill will be tabled in parliament over the coming year with the changes then coming into force on June 1st, 2025.

The right to free abortion was introduced in Denmark in 1973. 

SHOW COMMENTS