Austria’s Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Acquitted of False Statements
In a major development, the Higher Regional Court in Vienna has overturned the conviction of Austria’s former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his former Cabinet Chief Bernhard Bonelli, who were accused of making false statements during the “Ibiza” corruption inquiry.
Kurz, the former head of government, was accused of providing false testimony in the parliamentary inquiry, downplaying his role in the allocation of posts and making false statements. He consistently denied the allegations. Initially, he was sentenced to eight months of suspended imprisonment, but the court has now declared the verdict null and void.
According to the court, Kurz correctly answered a disputed yes-or-no question during the inquiry. The court’s decision to acquit Kurz has been upheld, while the verdict against Bonelli remains in place.