VIENNA: The perjury trial of Austria‘s conservative former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz entered its final scheduled day on Friday with a verdict due that might derail any probability Kurz has of launching a political comeback sooner or later.
Kurz, 37, denies downplaying his affect over the appointment of executives to newly created state holding firm OBAG when he was chancellor, when these appointments have been formally his finance minister’s duty.
The case centres on his testimony to a parliamentary fee of inquiry that he was “concerned within the sense of knowledgeable”. Prosecutors allege that Kurz was pulling the strings all alongside and have produced proof together with textual content messages and testimony by a star witness – former Kurz loyalist Thomas Schmid, the primary head of OBAG, who has turned state witness.
Kurz appeared within the Vienna courthouse in a darkish swimsuit and lightweight blue shirt and as in earlier appearances remained standing somewhat than sitting on the spot reserved for defendants when cameras have been within the courtroom earlier than proceedings started.
Kurz’s then coalition accomplice, the Greens, pressured him from workplace in 2021 when prosecutors positioned him and 9 different folks below investigation in a separate case on suspicion of corruption. Prosecutors have but to determine whether or not to convey costs in that doubtlessly much more damaging case.
Kurz denies all wrongdoing.
At his perjury trial, Kurz faces as much as three years in jail however any verdict is more likely to be pronounced late on Friday since two witnesses are resulting from testify earlier than closing arguments.
Kurz has now left politics and the conservatives have slid to second or third place within the polls, making it possible they’ll lose seats in a parliamentary election this 12 months. That has prompted hypothesis amongst his supporters that he might ultimately return to guide the social gathering and reverse its fortunes.
Polls, nonetheless, present a transparent majority of Austrians say they don’t need that. Kurz says he’s pleased in his new profession as a businessman.
Kurz, 37, denies downplaying his affect over the appointment of executives to newly created state holding firm OBAG when he was chancellor, when these appointments have been formally his finance minister’s duty.
The case centres on his testimony to a parliamentary fee of inquiry that he was “concerned within the sense of knowledgeable”. Prosecutors allege that Kurz was pulling the strings all alongside and have produced proof together with textual content messages and testimony by a star witness – former Kurz loyalist Thomas Schmid, the primary head of OBAG, who has turned state witness.
Kurz appeared within the Vienna courthouse in a darkish swimsuit and lightweight blue shirt and as in earlier appearances remained standing somewhat than sitting on the spot reserved for defendants when cameras have been within the courtroom earlier than proceedings started.
Kurz’s then coalition accomplice, the Greens, pressured him from workplace in 2021 when prosecutors positioned him and 9 different folks below investigation in a separate case on suspicion of corruption. Prosecutors have but to determine whether or not to convey costs in that doubtlessly much more damaging case.
Kurz denies all wrongdoing.
At his perjury trial, Kurz faces as much as three years in jail however any verdict is more likely to be pronounced late on Friday since two witnesses are resulting from testify earlier than closing arguments.
Kurz has now left politics and the conservatives have slid to second or third place within the polls, making it possible they’ll lose seats in a parliamentary election this 12 months. That has prompted hypothesis amongst his supporters that he might ultimately return to guide the social gathering and reverse its fortunes.
Polls, nonetheless, present a transparent majority of Austrians say they don’t need that. Kurz says he’s pleased in his new profession as a businessman.
