VC resigns over video scandal
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/05/vc-resigns-over-video-scandal.html
Austrian vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache says he is
resigning after two German newspapers published footage of him
apparently offering lucrative government contracts to a potential
Russian benefactor.
Strache in a statement before assembled journalists said that he was
illegally set up in a “political assassination” but added his behavior
in the video was “stupid, irresponsible and a mistake.”
The scandal has led to speculation about the future of the governing
coalition between Strache’s anti-immigration Freedom Party and
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s center-right People’s Party.
Scenarios include replacing Strache in the cabinet with another party
member or ending the coalition for new elections. Kurz has so far not
spoken publicly.
The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the weekly Der Spiegel on Friday
published extracts of covert video purportedly showing Strache offering
government contracts to a Russian woman purportedly interested in
investing large amounts of money in Austria.
In the video, the source of which the newspapers declined to reveal,
Strache and party colleague Johann Gudenus are heard telling the unnamed
woman she could expect lucrative construction contracts if she buys an
Austrian newspaper and supports the Freedom Party.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Der Spiegel said the footage was
authenticated by a forensic video expert. It couldn’t be immediately
independently verified by The Associated Press.
According to the two newspapers, the video spanned some six hours of
drink-fueled conversation in a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza
between the Austrian politicians and the woman, who claimed to be the
niece of a prominent Russian businessman.
Aside from discussing possible investments in Austria, including the
purchase of influential tabloid newspaper Kronen Zeitung, Strache also
appears to suggest ways of funneling money to his party via an
unconnected foundation to circumvent Austrian rules on political
donations.
Strache said that he had no further contact with the woman and that there were no contributions.