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| Austrian far-right FPÖ quits Kurz government after sacking | Austrian far-right FPÖ quits Kurz government after sacking |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has pulled out of the ruling coalition days after two top party figures were caught up in a secret video. | Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has pulled out of the ruling coalition days after two top party figures were caught up in a secret video. |
| President Alexander Van der Bellen fired FPÖ Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, prompting the party's other ministers to resign in solidarity. | President Alexander Van der Bellen fired FPÖ Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, prompting the party's other ministers to resign in solidarity. |
| In the video, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache appears to offer government contracts to a woman in exchange for electoral support. | In the video, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache appears to offer government contracts to a woman in exchange for electoral support. |
| He has stood down as vice-chancellor. | He has stood down as vice-chancellor. |
| The interior minister was not in the footage, but on Tuesday, President Van der Bellen fired him at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. | The interior minister was not in the footage, but on Tuesday, President Van der Bellen fired him at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. |
| Mr Kurz is now attempting to replace all five ministers with technocrats - who he says will be experts in their field - to form an interim government. | |
| The only exception is Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, an independent picked by the FPÖ, who said she would remain in her post. | The only exception is Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, an independent picked by the FPÖ, who said she would remain in her post. |
| Mr Kurz, meanwhile, faces the prospect of a no-confidence vote on Monday amid the political chaos. A special session of the Austrian parliament has been tabled for 27 May. | Mr Kurz, meanwhile, faces the prospect of a no-confidence vote on Monday amid the political chaos. A special session of the Austrian parliament has been tabled for 27 May. |
| Why is chancellor under fire? | Why is chancellor under fire? |
| The fallout has spread beyond the FPÖ to Chancellor Kurz, who is the leader of the centre-right People's Party in the coalition government. | The fallout has spread beyond the FPÖ to Chancellor Kurz, who is the leader of the centre-right People's Party in the coalition government. |
| Mr Kurz effectively ended the coalition by calling for fresh elections in September and announcing the dismissal of Interior Minister Kickl - who was FPÖ secretary general at the time the video was made in 2017. | Mr Kurz effectively ended the coalition by calling for fresh elections in September and announcing the dismissal of Interior Minister Kickl - who was FPÖ secretary general at the time the video was made in 2017. |
| Mr Kurz said he wanted "total transparency and a completely and unbiased investigation". | Mr Kurz said he wanted "total transparency and a completely and unbiased investigation". |
| Other FPÖ ministers, however, said on Monday they would stand by Mr Kickl and resign in solidarity. | Other FPÖ ministers, however, said on Monday they would stand by Mr Kickl and resign in solidarity. |
| Mr Kurz has said a caretaker government would continue in power until September vote, but his ruling party has only 62 seats in the 183-seat parliament. | Mr Kurz has said a caretaker government would continue in power until September vote, but his ruling party has only 62 seats in the 183-seat parliament. |
| The no-confidence motion, presented by Peter Pilz of the Jetzt party, called for a technocratic government to replace him until elections. | The no-confidence motion, presented by Peter Pilz of the Jetzt party, called for a technocratic government to replace him until elections. |
| Mr Kurz had been part of two failed governments, he said. "Increasingly we get the impression that this failure is no accident.... With him apparently it's about increasing his own power." | Mr Kurz had been part of two failed governments, he said. "Increasingly we get the impression that this failure is no accident.... With him apparently it's about increasing his own power." |
| "In the current situation, stability can only be achieved with an independent group of experts, not by a campaigning cabinet led by Kurz." | "In the current situation, stability can only be achieved with an independent group of experts, not by a campaigning cabinet led by Kurz." |
| It is unclear which parties will back the motion. | It is unclear which parties will back the motion. |
| On Tuesday morning, Mr Kickl said his party would vote against the chancellor if a no-confidence vote was brought forward. | On Tuesday morning, Mr Kickl said his party would vote against the chancellor if a no-confidence vote was brought forward. |
| But a Freedom Party spokesman told the Austrian Press Association that Mr Kickl's comments had been misinterpreted, and no decision had yet been taken. | But a Freedom Party spokesman told the Austrian Press Association that Mr Kickl's comments had been misinterpreted, and no decision had yet been taken. |
| What is in the video? | What is in the video? |
| The scandal is widely being labelled "Ibiza-gate", after the Spanish island where the video was recorded. It was made just weeks before the election which saw both the FPÖ and Chancellor Kurz's People Party perform well. | The scandal is widely being labelled "Ibiza-gate", after the Spanish island where the video was recorded. It was made just weeks before the election which saw both the FPÖ and Chancellor Kurz's People Party perform well. |
| In the footage, released last Friday by German media, Mr Strache can be seen relaxing and drinking for hours at a villa with FPÖ parliament group leader Johann Gudenus, while they meet with a woman, considered an investor purported to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. | In the footage, released last Friday by German media, Mr Strache can be seen relaxing and drinking for hours at a villa with FPÖ parliament group leader Johann Gudenus, while they meet with a woman, considered an investor purported to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. |
| During the conversation, Mr Strache appears to propose offering her public contracts if she buys a large stake in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung – and makes it support the Freedom Party. | During the conversation, Mr Strache appears to propose offering her public contracts if she buys a large stake in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung – and makes it support the Freedom Party. |
| He is heard suggesting that a number of journalists would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and that he wants to "build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban" – referring to Hungary's nationalist leader. | He is heard suggesting that a number of journalists would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and that he wants to "build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban" – referring to Hungary's nationalist leader. |
| Many questions remain unanswered about the video itself: it is not clear who recorded or how it was offered to German media outlets. | Many questions remain unanswered about the video itself: it is not clear who recorded or how it was offered to German media outlets. |
| The timing of its release - a week before European Parliament elections across the EU - has also been called into question. The Vienna prosecutor is considering a possible criminal inquiry. | The timing of its release - a week before European Parliament elections across the EU - has also been called into question. The Vienna prosecutor is considering a possible criminal inquiry. |
| How did scandal unfold? | How did scandal unfold? |
| The video's content was enough to force the resignation of Mr Strache on Saturday, within hours of it emerging and despite his protestations of innocence. | The video's content was enough to force the resignation of Mr Strache on Saturday, within hours of it emerging and despite his protestations of innocence. |
| Chancellor Kurz said his party was "shocked", labelling Mr Strache's behaviour "a wrong approach to politics". He also called for a criminal investigation. | Chancellor Kurz said his party was "shocked", labelling Mr Strache's behaviour "a wrong approach to politics". He also called for a criminal investigation. |
| And he revealed the long-standing friction between the coalition parties, saying: "Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow." | And he revealed the long-standing friction between the coalition parties, saying: "Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow." |
| "I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough," he added. | "I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough," he added. |
| Mr Kurz and President Alexander van der Bellen called for fresh elections over the scandal on Sunday. | Mr Kurz and President Alexander van der Bellen called for fresh elections over the scandal on Sunday. |
| A European Commission spokesman said members 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". | A European Commission spokesman said members 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". |
| A flurry of meetings and press conferences on Monday revealed little more, but it soon became clear that the FPÖ was standing by the interior minister. | A flurry of meetings and press conferences on Monday revealed little more, but it soon became clear that the FPÖ was standing by the interior minister. |
| When he was dismissed on Tuesday by the president, the party's other ministers followed immediately. | When he was dismissed on Tuesday by the president, the party's other ministers followed immediately. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| Austrians, in common with all other EU countries, are voting this week. Many who are voting by post have already cast their ballots, Austrian broadcaster ORF reports - and they cannot change their mind at this stage. | Austrians, in common with all other EU countries, are voting this week. Many who are voting by post have already cast their ballots, Austrian broadcaster ORF reports - and they cannot change their mind at this stage. |
| Meetings of senior officials continue, and it is possible the president may announce replacements for the FPÖ ministers, as the chancellor attempts to hold his government together. | Meetings of senior officials continue, and it is possible the president may announce replacements for the FPÖ ministers, as the chancellor attempts to hold his government together. |