Vienna Court Acquits Former Chancellor Kurz of False Testimony

Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been acquitted of charges of giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry concerning his role in appointing members to the supervisory board of the state holding company ÖBAG. The Vienna Higher Regional Court overturned his previous conviction, ruling that his answers could not be considered false at the time since they were not complete or definitive statements, and that Kurz aimed to provide a "political truth" rather than a strict legal testimony. Kurz had testified in 2020 during the investigation into the "Ibiza affair," a scandal that led to the collapse of the FPÖ-ÖVP coalition government. Despite this acquittal, Kurz remains under investigation in another corruption case involving alleged media manipulation. The ruling removes a significant legal obstacle to Kurz's potential political comeback, although public opinion on his return remains divided. Kurz, who stepped down in 2021, has expressed relief following the ruling and continues to maintain influence within the Austrian People's Party while pursuing a career outside politics.