Politics Acquittal for Austria's former chancellor Kurz
The Vienna Higher Regional Court has acquitted Austria's former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the charge of making false statements. The ruling overturns a previous sentence of eight months' suspended imprisonment by the Vienna Regional Court.
26.05.2025, 11:37
SDA
Kurz had been questioned in 2020 before the Ibiza Investigation Committee about his role in the appointment of supervisory board members for the state holding company Öbag. In the opinion of the court of first instance, he had downplayed his significant influence.
In the opinion of the Higher Regional Court, however, Kurz's answers at the time should not be considered false. He had not given the impression of having testified completely and conclusively.
In his closing statement, the former head of government, who is now active as an entrepreneur, repeatedly emphasized how incomprehensible the judge's ruling at the time was from his point of view. Unfortunately, he had not prepared well enough for the four-hour questioning, but his goal had always been "not to say anything wrong under any circumstances."
