Austrian court clears Sebastian Kurz of perjury conviction

In Austria, former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has faced significant legal challenges following his involvement in a parliamentary inquiry regarding corruption allegations in his government. On May 26, 2024, an Austrian appeals court quashed a previous conviction that had found him guilty of making false statements during this inquiry, which focused on his role in the establishment of a state holding company known as OeBAG and the involvement of his then close associate Thomas Schmid. The original verdict, which resulted in an eight-month suspended prison sentence, was delivered in February 2024 after a lengthy trial process that lasted four months and marked the first time in over three decades that a former Austrian chancellor was prosecuted. Kurz, who led the conservative Austrian People’s Party under an anti-immigration platform, had resigned in 2021 amid a separate corruption investigation. Following the appeal court's decision, he remarked on how the accusations he faced over the years have now collapsed, expressing his relief regarding the ruling which removed a significant barrier to any potential return to politics. His legal challenges still continue, as prosecutors are evaluating whether to bring charges related to corruption offenses stemming from the matters that originally forced him out of office. Kurz's former chief of staff, Bernhard Bonelli, however, did not receive the same reprieve, as he was upheld in his conviction for making false statements concerning the supervisory board appointments of OeBAG members. Though Kurz is currently out of politics and shifted his career to consulting and technology entrepreneurship, there remains speculation within some factions of his party about a possible return to political office amid changes in the party leadership, despite polling showing a majority of Austrians oppose his comeback.