Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Steps Down But Stays in Power | DW News

Oct 10, 2021 • Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has resigned. He has been under pressure over allegations he bribed a newspaper for favorable coverage prior to his election as party leader and then chancellor.

As he made that announcement on Saturday, Kurz said he wasn't involved in any criminal activity. And that he was standing aside to prevent a government crisis after his Greens coalition partner said he was unfit to lead the country. Kurz was expected to face a vote of no confidence in parliament next week.


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Soupçonné de corruption, le chancelier autrichien Sebastian Kurz annonce sa démission

l a expliqué se retirer pour la «stabilité» du pays. LISI NIESNER / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : Le chancelier conservateur évoque de «fausses accusations», mais dit vouloir éviter «des mois de chaos ou d'impasse».

Le chancelier conservateur autrichien Sebastian Kurz, soupçonné d'être impliqué dans une affaire de corruption, a annoncé samedi soir sa démission. «Il serait irresponsable de glisser vers des mois de chaos ou d'impasse», a-t-il déclaré devant la presse à Vienne, expliquant se retirer pour «la stabilité» du pays tout en réfutant de «fausses accusations». «Je veux céder la place pour éviter le chaos», a-t-il ajouté, disant avoir proposé le nom de son ministre des Affaires étrangères, Alexander Schallenberg, pour lui succéder.

Depuis l'annonce mercredi par le parquet de l'ouverture d'une enquête à son encontre pour corruption, Sebastian Kurz était sous pression pour se retirer. Le dirigeant de 35 ans avait jusqu'alors refusé, dénonçant des allégations «fabriquées». Mais les Verts, partenaires minoritaires du gouvernement, ont accru leurs critiques au fil des jours. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 9 octobre 2021

Sebastian Kurz to quit as Austrian chancellor due to corruption inquiry: Coalition partner, the Green party, demanded Kurz go after prosecutors announced investigation »

Facing Criminal Inquiry, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Resigns: After insisting he would remain in office amid accusations that public money was used to produce favorable polling, Mr. Kurz said he would step aside to resolve a government crisis. BERLIN — Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria announced on Saturday that he would resign, days after prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into allegations he used federal money to pay off pollsters and journalists for favorable coverage. »

Autriche : le chancelier Sebastian Kurz visé par une enquête pour corruption

Sebastian Kurz a récemment été critiqué pour ses velléités de contrôle des médias nationaux. LEONHARD FOEGER / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : «Neuf autres suspects, ainsi que trois organisations» sont aussi concernés pour diverses infractions de corruption liées à cette affaire, a annoncé le parquet dans un communiqué.

Le chancelier autrichien Sebastian Kurz, visé par une enquête, est soupçonné d'avoir utilisé des fonds gouvernementaux pour s'assurer une couverture médiatique favorable, a annoncé le parquet mercredi 6 octobre. «Sebastian Kurz et neuf autres suspects, ainsi que trois organisations» font l'objet d'une enquête pour diverses infractions de corruption liées à cette affaire, a précisé le parquet dans un communiqué, après une série de perquisitions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 5 octobre 2021

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Ousted in Co-Confidence Vote | DW News

Just two weeks ago Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz looked invincible. But now he is the country's first leader since the war to be ousted in a no-confidence motion. Parliament voted to kick him out over a corruption scandal involving his far-right coalition partner, the Freedom party (FPÖ). Now the country will be run by technocrats until new elections in September. Kurz, for his part, has vowed to fight on.

Europe Migration Crisis: Austria's Kurz Building Bridges? | Al Jazeera English

On Sunday, Austria takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. It means Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will temporarily lead an institution struggling to find a united front on migration. Kurz is pro-European but has taken a tough line on immigration in the past. So what direction will the bloc take with Austria at the helm? Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports from Oberndorf bei Salzburg.

#brennpunkt: Wie viel Türkei braucht Österreich?

Lehnt sich Staatspräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan vor den Türkei-Wahlen zu weit aus dem Fenster? Und ist der neue selbstbewusste Kurs der österreichischen Bundesregierung nötig - oder zu riskant? Darüber diskutierte krone.at-Kolumnistin und #brennpunkt-Moderatorin Katia Wagner mit Bundeskanzler Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), Juristin und Sektionschefin im Integrationsressort des Außenministeriums Susanne Raab, Chef des Türkischen Kulturvereins Birol Kilic und Leiter der Landesverteidigungsakademie Brigadier Walter Feichtinger.

Crackdown on 'Political Islam': Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, Receives Death Threats after Closing Mosques

An anti-terrorism probe has been launched in Austria after the county's chancellor Sebastian Kurz received death threats. It's believed the threats are linked to the government closing seven mosques and expelling dozens of imams over alleged links to extremism

Austria Crackdown – Government to Shut Down Mosques | Al Jazeera English

The Austrian government is shutting down seven mosques and expelling imams. It's part of measures by the chancellor Sebastian Kurz to target what he calls "political Islam" in the country. Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reports from neighbouring Germany.

How Trump’s Presidency Is Fueling Right-Wing Nationalist & Anti-Immigration Movements Across Europe

In Austria, conservative leader Sebastian Kurz has been tasked with forming a government after he won a slim majority in the snap elections earlier this month. His conservative party, which campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, is now weighing whether to form a coalition with Austria’s far-right populist Freedom Party, which won 26 percent of the vote in the Austrian elections. The Freedom Party was founded by former Nazis six decades ago. This comes as hate crimes in Britain hit a record high and anti-immigrant nationalist movements are surging across Europe. For more, we speak with Dominic Thomas, professor at UCLA who specializes in European politics. Thomas is chair of the Department of French and Francophone Studies.

Europe’s Newest Face: Kurz’s Election Win Indicates Rightward Shift for Austria

French President Emmanuel Macron no longer holds the bragging rights to the title "Europe's fresh face". Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of Austria's Christian Democrats and the winner of Sunday's snap election now holds that distinction. So what can we expect from this new leader whose ideas were supported by one quarter of the vote? The issues of immigration dominated his campaign and he openly embraced the prospect of forming a coalition with the far-right.

Inside Story - What Is behind Austria's Sharp Turn to the Right?

Sebastian Kurz has declared victory in Austria's national elections. He is on track to become the world's youngest leader.

Austria Election: The Difference between Macron and Kurz

France's Emmanuel Macron no longer holds bragging rights to the title of "Europe's fresh face." That distinction now the property of Sebastian Kurz, leader of Austria's Christian Democrats, winner of Sunday's snap general election, and at 31, eight years the junior of Macron. So what are the new ideas behind the new face?

Austria: Sebastian Kurz Election Victory Signals Rightward Shift

Austria: Foreign Minister Kurz Slams EU Refugee Policy

Austria Defends New Law on Foreign Funding of Mosques

THE GUARDIAN: Foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has defended a new Austrian law which restricts foreign funding for Austrian mosques and Islamic communities

Austria’s foreign minister has rejected criticism of the country’s new law on Islam aimed at cutting off foreign influence and funding, arguing that the legislation should become a model for the rest of Europe.

In an interview with the Guardian, Sebastian Kurz, whose role in the Austrian government also includes the portfolio for social integration, took particular aim at the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, suggesting Erdogan’s opposition to the law was motivated by fear of losing political influence on Austrian Muslims.

“I‘m not surprised by the criticism from President Erdoğan. This was to be expected,” Kurz said. “In our opinion, imams should be role models for young Muslims and must show that it is possible to be a proud Austrian and a believing Muslim at the same time and so there will be no need for Turkish imams in the future.

“And this is maybe the point why Erdoğan is so critical about our Islam law. At the moment we have more than 60 imams from Turkey and in the future we will have our own Austrian imams,” Kurz said. “It will not be possible in the future to have imams employed by the Turkish government.” » | Julian Borger Diplomatic editor | Sunday, March 08, 2015