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Austrian government in turmoil over video scandal Austria's far-right Freedom Party ministers all resign amid scandal
(about 1 hour 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. All ministers from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) have resigned, throwing the government into chaos.
Undercover video showed Mr Strache discussing a deal with a Russian woman. The Freedom Party's leader Heinz-Christian Strache, who was also vice-chancellor, was forced to resign at the weekend after a video sting.
Mr Kurz on Monday said he was also proposing that Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, a member of Mr Strache's Freedom Party (FPÖ), should be sacked. Mr Strache was filmed proposing to offer government contracts to a supposed Russian oligarch's daughter.
The party earlier said if he were sacked, all its ministers would quit. The FPÖ threatened a mass resignation earlier on Monday if Interior Minister Herbert Kickl was also forced out.
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. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had called over the weekend for Mr Kickl to be sacked, saying that as general secretary of the party he should take responsibility for the scandal.
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 scandal broke on Friday when footage from 2017 was published in German media, showing 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". The next day Mr Strache resigned and Chancellor Kurz - the head of the centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) - said new elections would have to be held.
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". Russia has denied any involvement. "This is an incident that has not, and could not, have anything to do with us," said President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
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.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.
Before the scandal broke, the FPÖ was expected to score about 20% in the European elections.Before the scandal broke, the FPÖ was expected to score about 20% in the European elections.
Political uncertaintyPolitical 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.
The FPÖ has warned that if Mr Kickl is forced out, the rest of the FPÖ ministers will quit. The FPÖ had warned that if Mr Kickl is forced out, the rest of the FPÖ ministers would quit.
Mr Kickl said before meeting Mr Kurz on Monday that he would "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 before meeting Mr Kurz on Monday that he would "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.
A vote of no-confidence in Mr Kurz has been scheduled in parliament for Wednesday.A vote of no-confidence in Mr Kurz has been scheduled in parliament for Wednesday.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says Austria is teeming with unanswered questions:
EU 'in disbelief'EU 'in disbelief'
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".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.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 speculated 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 suggested 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 named several journalists who would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and five other "new people whom we will build up".