Ibiza affair: Austrian far-right leader quits, snap election announced, after secret camera sting reveals meeting with ‘niece of Russian oligarch’
- The far-right Freedom Party’s Heinz-Christian Strache resigned as vice chancellor and party leader after the video was released by two German news organisations
- The downfall of the Austrian coalition comes just a week before elections to the European parliament
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz dramatically pulled the plug on his coalition government and announced fresh elections after an explosive camera sting claimed the scalp of his far-right deputy.
Media reports on Friday alleged Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache promised public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer he met on the island of Ibiza a few months before 2017’s parliamentary elections in Austria.
“I have suggested to the president of the republic that new elections be carried out, at the earliest possible date,” Kurz said in a televised statement.
On Friday Germany’s Der Spiegel and Sueddeutsche Zeitung published hidden-camera recordings of the sophisticated sting operation at a luxury villa.
“After yesterday’s video, I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough,” said Kurz, adding that he had been personally insulted in the footage.
“The serious part of this (video) was the attitude towards abuse of power, towards dealing with taxpayers’ money, towards the media in this country,” he said.