Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Wednesday swore in a transitional government headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz that will lead the country until the snap general elections
VIENNA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Wednesday swore in a transitional government headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz that will lead the country until the snap general elections.A major political scandal erupted in Vienna last week after the emergence of a video showing Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache allegedly making an illegal deal. Strache and all ministers from Kurz's minor coalition partner, the Freedom Party (FPO), except for Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, resigned on Monday. Kurz has approved cabinet reshuffles earlier in the day.
Van der Bellen formally dismissed the FPO ministers from and swore in new officials, as aired by Austrian tv channels.
Austrian Interior Minister and FPO member Herbert Kickl is replaced by former President of the Austrian Supreme Court Eckart Ratz, and military officer Johann Luif will be defense minister instead of Mario Kunasek. The post of minister for transport, innovation and technology will be assumed by Managing Director of the Austrian air navigation services provider Austro Control Valerie Hackl.
Media has reported that back in 2017, Strache discussed with an alleged niece of a Russian oligarch a deal that would see her acquire the Kronen Zeitung newspaper and gaining access to several government projects in exchange for favorable media coverage for the politician ahead of the 2017 general election.
Strache has described the video as an attempted political assassination.
The video was made public a week before the elections to the European Parliament, which will begin on Thursday.
