Austrian government crumbles as Chancellor Kurz loses no-confidence motion

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has lost a no-confidence motion, forcing his government from office, despite his party’s victory in the European elections.

It came after his former coalition partners in the far-right FPÖ party said they would back a no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ).

SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner said it was up to Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen to invite Parliament to find a solution for a new cabinet.

“What must not happen is that another government is sworn in which has no majority in parliament and therefore no stability,” Rendi-Wagner said.

It comes hours after Kurz’s Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) came out on top in the EU elections, winning by roughly 8 points more than in 2014.

But the ÖVP/SPÖ coalition government has been engulfed by chaos since German newspapers released video footage showing FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache offering public contracts to a Russian campaign backer.

Strache, who was Kurz’s Vice-Chancellor, resigned after the video footage was released.

 

Via BBC

Verified by MonsterInsights