The Greens questioned the Chancellor’s ability to act on Thursday. One wants to invite the club leaders of the parliamentary parties for talks, it said in a broadcast. An appointment with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has also been agreed. As a member of the coalition, they did not want the announcement – yet – understood.
In the broadcast from the office of Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, head of the Greens, reference was made to the order that became known on Wednesday for house searches in the ÖVP party headquarters, the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Chancellery. In it allegedly corrupt behavior of the closest circle of Chancellor Kurz was documented. “This has reached a new dimension. The impression is devastating, the issue must be fully clarified,” emphasized Kogler. “We cannot go back to the agenda, the Federal Chancellor’s ability to act is questioned against this background.”
Conversation with Van der Bellen
“We have to ensure stability and order,” said Kogler. Kogler and club chairwoman Sigrid Maurer therefore want to invite the club chairmen of all parliamentary parties to discuss how to proceed. “We have a common responsibility for our country. We have to work together to ensure stability and clarification, and that is why I would like to advise on how to proceed across parties,” said Kogler. In addition, a meeting with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has been agreed.
The statements in the Green government team did not want to be understood as the termination of the turquoise-green coalition or a new election announcement. With the statement, the Greens leave any consequences and thus the continued existence of the coalition open.
The Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) is investigating Kurz and nine other people on suspicion of breach of trust, bribery and corruption. House searches of some close employees of the Chancellor, the ÖVP headquarters, the Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance took place on Wednesday. It is about courtesy reporting by the “Austria” group in exchange for advertisements by the finance department as well as surveys financed by taxpayers’ money, which would have only served the benefit of the future chancellor.
