Politics Austria's former chancellor Kurz calls for judicial reform
One day after his acquittal for allegedly making false statements, Austria's former chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) has called for an "open and courageous debate" about reforms to the justice system.
27.05.2025, 14:07
SDA
"There are undesirable developments even in good systems," said the 38-year-old, referring to his four-year trial.
On Monday, the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) overturned a first-instance verdict that provided for an eight-month suspended sentence. The OLG did not consider a statement made by Kurz in the Ibiza Investigation Committee to be false - in contrast to the Vienna Regional Court.
Kurz in favor of a different political culture
Kurz said that in his case, as in other long-standing investigations and trials, he lacked a sense of proportionality to protect the accused. "Not every complaint and not every politically motivated accusation should be blown up like a hot air balloon into a gigantic trial." The first-instance trial lasted twelve days, 30 witnesses were heard, thousands of pages of documents were produced and almost 10,000 reports were published in the media worldwide.
Kurz pleaded for a different political culture in which it was no longer about the next scandal, the next charge. Kurz was denounced by the liberal Neos party after his appearance in the Ibiza committee of inquiry.
Former head of government wants to get involved in debates as a citizen
The former head of government is also still under investigation in the so-called advertisement affair. He is accused of having surveys paid for with taxpayers' money and government advertisements placed in tabloid newspapers. Kurz's team is said to have hoped for positive coverage in return. The former chancellor denies the allegations.
Kurz remained silent on speculation that the acquittal could facilitate his return to the political stage. Kurz, who is active as an entrepreneur, said that he would participate in political debates as a citizen.
