Vienna’s Higher Regional Court overturned the earlier conviction of former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday. The court cleared him of charges that he lied during a parliamentary inquiry and dismissed the eight-month suspended prison sentence he had received. This decision closes a significant legal case involving the conservative politician.
The case focused on Kurz’s testimony in June 2020 about the management of Austria’s state holding company OeBAG. Prosecutors accused him of giving false information regarding the appointment of the supervisory board and the selection of Thomas Schmid, a close ally, to a leadership role. Kurz was initially convicted of providing misleading statements, but the appeals court found insufficient evidence to uphold the conviction.
Kurz’s former chief of staff, Bernhard Bonelli, was convicted of lying about their roles in the selection process and received a six-month suspended sentence. Kurz expressed regret over this part of the outcome but maintained his innocence.
This trial was the first for a former Austrian chancellor in over thirty years. Kurz resigned from his position in 2021 amid corruption allegations, but his party, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), continues to govern under Chancellor Christian Stocker. The ÖVP finished second in the most recent national elections.
Kurz’s acquittal may help improve his public image, but the controversies from his tenure still affect Austria’s political environment.