(ANSA-AP) - VIENNA, MAY 18 - Austrian vice chancellor
Heinz-Christian Strache resigned Saturday after two German
newspapers published footage of him apparently offering
lucrative government contracts to a potential Russian
benefactor. Standing before assembled journalists and cameras,
Strache said 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. In his resignation statement, Strache said he
was quitting so that the coalition could continue its work.
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 purported ly 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.
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 announced his resignation to
assembled journalists withOut taking questions. He said that he
had no further contact with the woman and that there were no
contributions. (ANSA-AP).
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