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| Austria minister Heinz-Christian Strache resigns amid video scandal | Austria minister Heinz-Christian Strache resigns amid video scandal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Austria's Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache has resigned a day after secret video footage mired him in a corruption scandal. | Austria's Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache has resigned a day after secret video footage mired him in a corruption scandal. |
| The video appeared to show Mr Strache discussing government contracts with an alleged Russian investor in return for campaign support. | The video appeared to show Mr Strache discussing government contracts with an alleged Russian investor in return for campaign support. |
| He also appeared to hint at a potentially illegal donation system for the far-right Freedom Party he leads. | He also appeared to hint at a potentially illegal donation system for the far-right Freedom Party he leads. |
| He blamed his actions on alcohol and acting like a "teenager." | |
| Mr Strache said that transport minister Norbert Hofer will replace him. | Mr Strache said that transport minister Norbert Hofer will replace him. |
| He said that his actions had been "stupid" and "irresponsible" and he was leaving to avoid further damage to the government. | |
| Mr Strache claimed he was the "victim of a targeted political attack" that had used illegal means. | Mr Strache claimed he was the "victim of a targeted political attack" that had used illegal means. |
| "There is still a lot to do because we want to continue implementing the government's programme and we stand by it out of responsibility for Austria and its people," the vice-chancellor said. | |
| "As an individual I must not be the reason for stopping that and perhaps providing a pretext to break this government - for that was the aim of this illegal, smear campaign." | |
| He also blamed his actions on being drunk and trying to impress a woman who was present and claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. | |
| "I was, yes, under influence of increasing drunkenness and yes it was a drunken story. I was tempted in an intimate atmosphere and with a loosened tongue to hold forth on all and everything. And yes what I said was, viewed in a sober light, disastrous and embarrassing," he said. | |
| "It was typical alcohol-fuelled macho posturing where, yes, I probably wanted to impress the attractive hostess and I behaved boastfully like a teenager and acted in an exaggerated manner," he added. | |
| Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the centre-right People's Party was also due to give a statement on Saturday. | Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the centre-right People's Party was also due to give a statement on Saturday. |
| The damaging video featuring Mr Strache was allegedly filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2017, just months before elections brought him to power. | The damaging video featuring Mr Strache was allegedly filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2017, just months before elections brought him to power. |
| It was published on Friday in a joint report by Der Spiegel and the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. It is unclear who set up the meeting and who filmed it. | It was published on Friday in a joint report by Der Spiegel and the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. It is unclear who set up the meeting and who filmed it. |
| The footage shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - also a Freedom Party politician - talking to the woman. She told the pair that she was looking to invest in Austria. | |
| Both politicians can be seen smoking and drinking while relaxing on sofas. | Both politicians can be seen smoking and drinking while relaxing on sofas. |
| The woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial allegiance to the Freedom Party. | The woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial allegiance to the Freedom Party. |
| Mr Strache names several journalists who would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper. | Mr Strache names several journalists who would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper. |
| He also appears to suggest that she could be awarded public contracts. | He also appears to suggest that she could be awarded public contracts. |