This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/459694-austria-chancellor-kurz-scandal-speech/
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'As soon as possible': Austria's Kurz on snap elections following leaked video scandal | 'As soon as possible': Austria's Kurz on snap elections following leaked video scandal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has proposed calling a snap election after the country's Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Starche resigned after what he called "political assassination." | |
| “I have proposed to the president today to hold snap elections in Austria as soon as possible,” Kurz said. | |
| He called on those, who support his reform course and those satisfied with the policies of his government over the last two years to back him during the forthcoming vote. | |
| Kurz also said he could have attempted to avoid snap elections and retain his power as the Chancellor but added that it would not be “the right way.” | |
| The development follows a scandal that involved Strache, who is a member of the Freedom Party (FPO) – a junior member of Kurz’s right-wing coalition. On Friday, the German newspapers Spiegel and Suddeutscher Zeitung broke a story centered around a leaked secret 2017 recording showing Strache and another high-ranking FPO member talking to a woman who was described as a “niece of a Russian oligarch.” | |
| The politicians discussed the ways the woman could support their election campaign ahead of Austria’s 2017 general vote in exchange for future preferences in acquiring government contracts in the field of construction. They particularly discussed the possibility of her buying a majority share in an Austrian tabloid newspaper and using it as a platform to support the FPO. | The politicians discussed the ways the woman could support their election campaign ahead of Austria’s 2017 general vote in exchange for future preferences in acquiring government contracts in the field of construction. They particularly discussed the possibility of her buying a majority share in an Austrian tabloid newspaper and using it as a platform to support the FPO. |
| Following the reports, Strache announced his resignation both from the post of vice-chancellor and the post of the FPO leader while calling the leak “political assignation.” | Following the reports, Strache announced his resignation both from the post of vice-chancellor and the post of the FPO leader while calling the leak “political assignation.” |
| However, he did not dispute the video’s authenticity, arguing instead that it should be made public in full and adding that he maintained during that meeting at “everything must be within the law.” | However, he did not dispute the video’s authenticity, arguing instead that it should be made public in full and adding that he maintained during that meeting at “everything must be within the law.” |
| In his speech Kurz criticized the leak that led to the scandal by saying that the methods used to expose Strache’s misdeeds were “despicable” and reminded him of a “dirty campaign” waged against Kurz himself back in 2017 by a political adviser Tal Silberstein hired by Social Democrats. | |
| The scandal rocked the Austrian society with thousands of people taking to the streets to demand snap elections. Some 5,000 protesters joined a spontaneous rally outside of the Chancellor’s Office in the Austrian capital of Vienna. | The scandal rocked the Austrian society with thousands of people taking to the streets to demand snap elections. Some 5,000 protesters joined a spontaneous rally outside of the Chancellor’s Office in the Austrian capital of Vienna. |
| The protesters that literally flooded the area near the Chancellor’s Office were seen holding the placards that read: “Snap election now!” and “Mr. Chancellor, what is wrong with you?” | The protesters that literally flooded the area near the Chancellor’s Office were seen holding the placards that read: “Snap election now!” and “Mr. Chancellor, what is wrong with you?” |
| The chancellor also spent a significant time of his speech praising the work of his government and his achievements over the past two years. | |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! |