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| Austrian government in turmoil over video scandal | Austrian government in turmoil over video scandal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is battling to shore up his coalition government after a video scandal forced the resignation of his far-right deputy Heinz-Christian Strache. | Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is battling to shore up his coalition government after a video scandal forced the resignation of his far-right deputy Heinz-Christian Strache. |
| Attention is now focused on Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, a member of Mr Strache's Freedom Party (FPÖ). | Attention is now focused on Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, a member of Mr Strache's Freedom Party (FPÖ). |
| In a brief press statement, Mr Kurz did not confirm speculation that Mr Kickl would be sacked over the affair. | In a brief press statement, Mr Kurz did not confirm speculation that Mr Kickl would be sacked over the affair. |
| Undercover video showed Mr Strache discussing a deal with a Russian woman. | Undercover video showed Mr Strache discussing a deal with a Russian woman. |
| The scandal erupted on Friday, when the footage from 2017 was published in German media. The next day Mr Strache resigned and Chancellor Kurz - head of the centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) - said new elections would have to be held. | The scandal erupted on Friday, when the footage from 2017 was published in German media. The next day Mr Strache resigned and Chancellor Kurz - head of the centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) - said new elections would have to be held. |
| The video showed Mr Strache and another FPÖ official proposing to offer government contracts to a supposed Russian oligarch's daughter. They also suggested taking over Austria's best-selling newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, to turn it into a party propaganda organ. | The video showed Mr Strache and another FPÖ official proposing to offer government contracts to a supposed Russian oligarch's daughter. They also suggested taking over Austria's best-selling newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, to turn it into a party propaganda organ. |
| Russia has denied any involvement. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said "this is an incident that has not, and could not, have anything to do with us". | Russia has denied any involvement. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said "this is an incident that has not, and could not, have anything to do with us". |
| In 2016 the FPÖ signed a long-term co-operation agreement with Mr Putin's United Russia party, including joint efforts to "instil a patriotic spirit in the younger generation". | |
| The video scandal comes at a particularly awkward time for the FPÖ. Voters across the EU go to the polls on 23-26 May, in European Parliament elections widely expected to boost the numbers of far-right and other Eurosceptic MEPs. | |
| Political uncertainty | Political uncertainty |
| Mr Strache blamed his actions on alcohol and acting like a "teenager", saying his behaviour had been "stupid" and "irresponsible", and that he was leaving to avoid further damage to the government. | Mr Strache blamed his actions on alcohol and acting like a "teenager", saying his behaviour had been "stupid" and "irresponsible", and that he was leaving to avoid further damage to the government. |
| Mr Kurz is due to meet Interior Minister Kickl soon - but the FPÖ has warned that, if Mr Kickl is forced out, the rest of the FPÖ ministers will quit. | Mr Kurz is due to meet Interior Minister Kickl soon - but the FPÖ has warned that, if Mr Kickl is forced out, the rest of the FPÖ ministers will quit. |
| Mr Kickl said "today I have another meeting with Chancellor Kurz, and I will once again make it clear to him that what matters to me is the whole of Austria, the whole of my people, not my position". | Mr Kickl said "today I have another meeting with Chancellor Kurz, and I will once again make it clear to him that what matters to me is the whole of Austria, the whole of my people, not my position". |
| Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen called for early elections to be held in September. | Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen called for early elections to be held in September. |
| Chancellor Kurz said his party was "shocked" by Mr Strache's behaviour, which he called "a wrong approach to politics". | Chancellor Kurz said his party was "shocked" by Mr Strache's behaviour, which he called "a wrong approach to politics". |
| The scandal had damaged Austria's international reputation, Mr Kurz said. | The scandal had damaged Austria's international reputation, Mr Kurz said. |
| He demanded a full investigation, saying the video might have criminal ramifications. "Anything illegal must be clarified," he said. | He demanded a full investigation, saying the video might have criminal ramifications. "Anything illegal must be clarified," he said. |
| EU 'in disbelief' | EU 'in disbelief' |
| An EU Commission spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, said the EU had "followed in disbelief as a leader of a political party was seen negotiating access to media and institutions, in exchange for funds from external benefactors who clearly do not have Europeans' best interests at heart". | An EU Commission spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, said the EU had "followed in disbelief as a leader of a political party was seen negotiating access to media and institutions, in exchange for funds from external benefactors who clearly do not have Europeans' best interests at heart". |
| On Saturday Mr Kurz said this was not the first time he had had difficulties with the FPÖ. | On Saturday Mr Kurz said this was not the first time he had had difficulties with the FPÖ. |
| "Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow," he said. "After yesterday's video, I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough." | "Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow," he said. "After yesterday's video, I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough." |
| What do we know about the video? | What do we know about the video? |
| It is not known who recorded it. | It is not known who recorded it. |
| Neither is it clear who set up the meeting, which allegedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 2017 - before the FPÖ joined the new government. | Neither is it clear who set up the meeting, which allegedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 2017 - before the FPÖ joined the new government. |
| The video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - another FPÖ politician - relaxing on sofas, drinking and talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian national looking to invest in Austria. | The video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - another FPÖ politician - relaxing on sofas, drinking and talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian national looking to invest in Austria. |
| In the footage, the woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. | In the footage, the woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. |
| In exchange, Mr Strache said he could award her public contracts, explaining that he wanted to "build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban", a reference to Hungary's prime minister, described by critics as an authoritarian leader. | |
| The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen Zeitung could boost support for the party to as much as 34%. | The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen Zeitung could boost support for the party to as much as 34%. |
| "If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything," Mr Strache said. | "If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything," Mr Strache said. |
| As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman "set up a company like Strabag", the Austrian construction firm. | As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman "set up a company like Strabag", the Austrian construction firm. |
| "All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get," he continues. | "All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get," he continues. |
| Mr Strache also names several journalists who would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and five other "new people whom we will build up". | Mr Strache also names several journalists who would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and five other "new people whom we will build up". |