Austrian leader Sebastian Kurz said he was stepping down from his office Saturday evening, days after his office was raided by Austrian prosecutors investigating him and close team members on suspicion of bribery and breach of trust.
Kurz, speaking in a televised address on Austrian television said, "I want to make space to guarantee stability."
However, the 35-year-old Chancellor said the corruption allegations against him were "wrong" and denied that he had used government money for political purposes.
Kurz said Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg would become the new chancellor, according to public broadcaster ORF.
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has stepped down, after pressure triggered by a corruption scandal.
ReplyDeleteHe has proposed Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg as his replacement.
Mr Kurz and nine others were placed under investigation after raids at a number of locations linked to his conservative ÖVP People's Party.
He denies claims he used government money to ensure positive coverage in a tabloid newspaper.
The allegations this week took his coalition government to the brink of collapse after its junior partner, the Greens, said Mr Kurz was no longer fit to be chancellor.
The Greens began talks with opposition parties, who were threatening to bring a vote of no confidence against the chancellor next week.
Greens leader and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler welcomed Mr Kurz's resignation and indicated he would be willing to work with Mr Schallenberg, saying they had a "very constructive" relationship...BBC
Le chancelier conservateur autrichien, Sebastian Kurz, a annoncé sa démission, samedi, lors d'une conférence de presse. Soupçonné d'être impliqué dans une affaire de corruption, il a expliqué agir "pour la stabilité du pays."
ReplyDeleteLe chancelier conservateur autrichien Sebastian Kurz, soupçonné d'être impliqué dans une affaire de corruption, a annoncé, samedi 9 octobre, sa démission.
DeleteIl 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.
Kurz tritt als Kanzler ab und wird Klubchef - Schallenberg übernimmt
ReplyDeleteKurz will "Platz machen", bleibt aber ÖVP-Chef und geht in den Nationalrat ein. Außenminister Schallenberg soll übernehmen.