Corruption Investigations Begin Against Former Vice-Kancellari

Public Prosecution Office Against Corruption ( W The KStA has launched investigations against former Freedom Party leader (FP) Heinz-Christian Strache, who also held the post of vice-cancellar.

According to the magazine “profil”, the reason for the investigation is suspicion of embezzlement.

Investigations have been initiated against former FP member Johann Goodenus, as well as against other persons suspected of violating trust “in various forms of participation”.

Johhan Pauer, Strache's lawyer, said he was unable to comment on the ongoing procedures.

Strache was filmed talking to a Russian oligarch's niece about how to channel secret donations to the FP party. The woman, presenting herself as an oligarch's granddaughter, offered to buy 50% of the Austrian newspaper”ron Zeitung” and use it to support the FP.

The video was published on May 18th and forced by Strache and Gudenus to leave the post. Consumers of the People's Party (VP) have demanded that Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (FP) also resign and the rest of the FP ministers leave with him.

Shortly after that, Chancellor Kurz announced that the coalition was disbanded and called for early elections in September.

It is still not clear who organized the meeting, which took place at a villa in Ibiza, just before the Austrian national elections of 2017. / A OVR