Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been acquitted of perjury charges by a Vienna court, potentially opening the door for a political comeback of one of Europe’s youngest conservative leaders.
At a Glance
- A Vienna court has overturned Sebastian Kurz’s perjury conviction, nullifying his eight-month suspended prison sentence
- Kurz had been accused of making false statements about appointments to Austria’s state holding company OeBAG
- The acquittal marks the first time in over 30 years an Austrian chancellor faced trial
- The court upheld the conviction of Kurz’s former chief of staff, Bernhard Bonelli
- Speculation grows about whether Kurz, who resigned in 2021 amid corruption allegations, might return to politics
Legal Victory for Austria’s Former Chancellor
The Vienna court’s decision to acquit former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of perjury charges represents a significant legal victory for the 37-year-old politician who once dominated Austrian politics. Kurz had previously received an eight-month suspended prison sentence for allegedly making false statements to parliament during a 2020 investigation. The charges specifically related to his testimony about the establishment of Austria’s state holding company OeBAG and the appointment of Thomas Schmid to its leadership. The case marked the first time in over three decades that a former Austrian chancellor stood trial, highlighting its political significance.
While Kurz was acquitted, the court upheld the conviction of his former chief of staff, Bernhard Bonelli, who received a six-month suspended sentence for making false statements. The trial stemmed from a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of corruption within Kurz’s government, specifically examining whether Kurz had downplayed his involvement in key personnel decisions. Prosecutors had alleged that Kurz misrepresented his role in appointing members to OeBAG’s supervisory board during his testimony to parliament, claims the appeals court ultimately rejected.
Kurz’s Meteoric Rise and Fall
Sebastian Kurz rose to prominence as a political wunderkind, becoming Austria’s foreign minister at just 27 years old before ascending to the chancellorship at 31 in 2017. His Austrian People’s Party achieved electoral victories in both 2017 and 2019, largely on the strength of Kurz’s charismatic leadership and strong anti-immigration stance. His first government collapsed after a scandal involving the vice chancellor from the Freedom Party, who was caught on video offering favors to a purported Russian investor. Kurz then formed a new coalition with the Greens in 2020.
However, Kurz’s political career came to an abrupt halt in October 2021 amid accusations that he and his allies had used public funds to secure favorable media coverage. These allegations triggered his resignation from both the chancellorship and later from politics altogether. Since then, Kurz has maintained a relatively low profile while pursuing business interests outside of government. His People’s Party continues to lead Austria’s government under Chancellor Christian Stocker, though it faces increasing competition from the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
Implications for Austrian Politics
The acquittal comes at a pivotal moment for Austrian conservatism. The Austrian People’s Party has struggled to maintain its electoral dominance since Kurz’s departure, while the far-right Freedom Party has gained considerable ground in polls. Many political observers view the court’s decision as potentially transformative for Austrian politics, raising questions about whether Kurz might stage a political comeback ahead of the next parliamentary elections. At just 37 years old, Kurz has ample time to rebuild his political career if he chooses.
Kurz himself has claimed that he was unfairly targeted by political opponents, and the court’s decision appears to vindicate this perspective. The ruling also reinforces concerns among conservatives about politically motivated prosecutions of right-leaning leaders. While Kurz has not made any public statements about returning to politics, his continued popularity among certain segments of Austrian voters and his acquittal on all charges have created conditions that would potentially allow for his reentry into the political arena should he desire it.
