Austrian leader calls an early election amid video scandal
VIENNA (AP) — Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called Saturday because an early alternative after his vice chancellor resigned above a covertly shot video that showed him apparently promising government contracts ought a prospective Russian investor.
Kurz said he used to plead principal Alexander Van der Bellen ought put a appointment because a new alternative "as directly because possible."
Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the far-right, anti-immigrant freedom feast which is at Austria's ruling coalition with Kurz's People's Party, had resigned earlier Saturday, a appointment after the video was published.
The video hit a courage among broader concerns approximately ties between Russia and right-wing populist parties critical of the European Union, the more hence although the freedom feast is part of a Western government. at 2016, Strache went ought Moscow ought moan a "cooperation pact" with the United Russia party, which is faithful ought Russian principal Vladimir Putin.
Strache's resignation was either a dim eye because the populist and nationalist army who favor tighter European immigration policies. It came only a little days ago the can 23-26 elections at 28 European college nations ought fill the 751-seat European Parliament. Nationalists and populists along Europe are competing ought come a tough showing at that vote.
At a news council late Saturday, Kurz said talks with other officials from the freedom feast showed they were no voluntary ought invent the changes that Kurz felt were indispensable ought abstract the contemporary coalition. Kurz either said a feasible coalition with the center-left Social Democrats used to derail the government's program of limiting debt and taxes.
No appointment was directly given because a new vote. Austria's public ORF television reported analysts saying the vote could admit put at September.
Two German publications, the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the weekly Der Spiegel, published extracts Friday of a covert video purportedly showing Strache during an alcohol-fueled evening above the Spanish resort island of Ibiza offering Austrian government contracts ought a Russian woman, purportedly the niece of a Russian oligarch and interested at investing big amounts of coin at Austria.
In his resignation statement Saturday, Strache apologized besides said he was found at a "political assassination" that illegally used surveillance equipment. He conceded his behavior at the video was "stupid, irresponsible and a mistake."
The publications declined ought tell where they got the video. at it, Strache and feast mingle Johann Gudenus are heard telling the unnamed female she could wish lucrative construction career if she bought Austria's Kronen Zeitung periodical and supported the freedom Party.
The 49-year-old politician said he had been at a condition of "increasing alcohol intoxication" and had "behaved similar a teenager" at an trial ought "impress the attractive host." He said he had had no farther face with the female and she did no donate ought his party.
Key topics at the EU elections dine been debates above immigration, democracy and human rights after Europe faced an influx at 2015 of migrants and asylum-seekers from war-torn areas at the Mideast and Asia.
On one aspect are nationalist, anti-immigrant movements critical of the EU such because Austria's freedom Party, the choice because Germany party, France's far-right National council and Italy's association party. They wish ought cease most immigration into Europe, specially from Muslim areas, and award more control aid ought national governments from EU headquarters at Brussels.
On the other side, pro-European movements such because continent's mainstream center-right and center-left parties scream on the EU parliament vote because a opportunity ought decline populism and uphold European cooperation and integration.
In the video, Strache either appeared ought meaning ways of funneling coin ought his feast via an unconnected base ought circumvent Austrian rules above political donations.
A spokesman because the opposition Social Democratic Party, Hannes Jarolim, has asked prosecutors ought face into the video, the APA news agency reported. Jarolim reportedly claimed the statements at the video could compose offenses or attempted offenses such because misuse of office, bribery and coin laundering.
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McHugh reported from Frankfurt, Germany.