April 15, 2020

Chancellor S. Kurz is under investigation in Austria for alleged false testimony

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday that Austria's Economic Crime and Corruption Prosecutor's Office is investigating him over alleged false testimony, but he will not resign.

On Wednesday before a cabinet meeting, S. Kurz announced that Austria's Economic Crime and Corruption Prosecutor's Office suspects him and his chief of staff Bernhard Bonelli of giving false testimony at a hearing before a parliamentary committee to probe the Ibiza Maklerin case.

According to the local media, in response to the question of the parliamentary committee about the appointments of the management of the state holding company S. Kurtz said that he "was not aware of the case," but the opposition on the basis of other materials concluded that the Chancellor "was aware of the case," and appealed to the prosecutor's office of the country.

According to S. Kurtz, he has just been informed that an investigation has been opened. He confirmed that he would not resign even if the investigation reached the point of pressing charges.