Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz ousted by the Austrian Parliament. He was ousted as he lost the no confidence in a special Parliamentary session.

His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ) backed the no-confidence motions. The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition.

Opposition parties brought forward the two no-confidence votes – one against Kurz and the other against his government. Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen named Vice Chancellor Hartwig Löger as the interim leader. Löger will serve until a new transitional government can be appointed ahead of elections expected in September.

Kurz, head of the conservative Austrian People’s Party, is the first Chancellor in post-war Austrian history to lose a confidence vote. He was the world’s youngest state leader when elected in 2017, at 31.

Kurz’s surprisingly strong showing in recent European Union elections – with a projected 35% of the vote – was not enough to save him. </s> The Austrian government has lost a no-confidence vote in a special parliamentary session on Monday over the Ibiza corruption scandal.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), was the first Austrian chancellor to lose a confidence vote in post-war history. </s> Austria’s parliament has voted to remove Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government from office in a special parliamentary session.

His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), backed the motions brought by the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ).

The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition. Austria’s president must now decide who will be chancellor.

This leader will head a caretaker government ahead of elections expected in September. Kurz, head of the conservative Austrian People’s Party, is the first chancellor in post-war Austrian history to lose a confidence vote. At 32, he is the world’s youngest state leader.

The SPÖ brought forward the two no-confidence votes – one against Kurz and the other against the government.

While they control only 52 of the 183-seat lower house, the FPÖ – who hold 51 seats – agreed to back the motions, which needed only a simple majority to pass.

Kurz’s surprise strong showing in Sunday’s European Union elections – with a projected 35% of the vote – was not enough to save him. On Facebook he accused the parties of a “game of revenge” ahead of the confidence votes.

The parties ranged against Kurz appeared to believe he should shoulder some of the blame for the fall of the coalition. (BBC) </s> Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been ousted after losing a no-confidence vote in the Austrian parliament on Monday, a day after consolidating power for his centre-right Austrian People’s party.

Kurz and his cabinet were unable to weather a corruption scandal that had already brought down his coalition government earlier this month that involved now-former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache.

Strache was caught appearing to offer public contracts in return for campaign help and media access through Russian connections.

Kurz had previously celebrated a big win for his conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) in Sunday’s European elections, which is projected to gain 34.9% of the vote and two extra European parliament seats, but the opposition claims that the 32-year-old leader must take responsibility for the scandal along with the disgraced Strache.

The no-confidence vote against Kurz took place in a special sitting of parliament with more than half of the MPs withdrawing their support. Kurz is now the shortest-serving chancellor as well as the first in post-war Austrian history to be removed by parliament.

The Social Democrats leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner accused Kurz of a “shameless power grab” while tabling the no-confidence motion.

It is now up to President Alexander Van der Bellen to appoint experts to lead the government ahead of the elections. </s> SYDNEY - Austria’s parliament has voted to remove Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government from office in a special parliamentary session. His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), backed the motions brought by the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ).The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition.

Austria’s president must now decide who will be chancellor.This leader will head a caretaker government ahead of elections expected in September.

Mr Kurz, head of the conservative Austrian People’s Party, is the first chancellor in post-war Austrian history to lose a confidence vote. At 32, he is the world’s youngest state leader.

The SPÖ brought forward the two no-confidence votes - one against Mr Kurz and the other against the government. While they control only 52 of the 183-seat lower house, the FPÖ - who hold 51 seats - agreed to back the motions, which needed only a simple majority to pass.

The left-wing environmentalist JETZT party also voted to oust the chancellor and his government, although the liberal NEOS party reportedly backed Mr Kurz in a bid to avoid instability.

Mr Kurz did well in Sunday’s EU elections but it was not enough to save him

Mr Kurz’s surprise strong showing in Sunday’s European Union elections - with a projected 35% of the vote - was not enough to save him. On Facebook he accused the parties of a “game of revenge” ahead of the confidence votes, adding: “But at the end of the day the people will decide, namely in September.” The parties ranged against Mr Kurz appeared to believe he should shoulder some of the blame for the fall of the coalition.

The Social Democrats say he should never have allied himself with the FPÖ in the first place. The FPÖ is still smarting from having had Mr Kurz replace all of its ministers with technocrats. The new face of the far right in Europe. Mr Kurz meanwhile has promoted himself as a bastion of stability amid the turmoil.

It has widely been labelled “Ibiza-gate”, after the Spanish island where the video was recorded. It was secretly filmed in 2017 just weeks before the election which saw both the FPÖ and Chancellor Kurz’s party perform well. In the footage, released by German media, Freedom Party leader and vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache can be seen relaxing and drinking for hours at a villa with FPÖ parliament group leader Johann Gudenus, while they meet a woman, purported to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. Mr Strache appears to propose offering her public contracts if she buys a large stake in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung - and makes it support the Freedom Party.

He is heard suggesting that a number of journalists would have to be “pushed” from the newspaper, and that he wants to “build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban” - referring to Hungary’s nationalist leader.

President Alexander Van der Bellen then fired FPÖ Interior Minister Herbert Kickl at the request of Mr Kurz. The move prompted the FPÖ’s other ministers to resign in solidarity. Despite the scandal, Austrian news agency APA reports that Mr Strache could possibly take a seat in the European parliament.

The former vice chancellor had remained at the bottom of his party’s election list for the European elections after his resignation. But under Austrian law he could take one of FPÖ’s predicted three seats if enough people supported him as a candidate. </s> Video caption The video, from, 2017, was recorded in a villa in Ibiza

Austria's parliament has removed Chancellor Sebastian Kurz from office in a special parliamentary session.

His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), and the opposition Social Democrats (SPÖ) on Monday backed the no-confidence motion.

The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition.

On Tuesday, Austria's president appointed an interim government led by Vice-Chancellor Hartwig Löger.

President Alexander Van der Bellen earlier said the constitution mandated all offices must be filled "even in a transitional period" and asked for some ministers to stay in office. General elections are expected in September.

Mr Löger is a member of Mr Kurz's centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) and the country's finance minister.

He was appointed vice-chancellor days ago after the previous holder of the office, FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache, was sacked over the video sting.

Mr Kurz is the first chancellor in post-war Austrian history to lose a confidence vote.

When he was elected in 2017, he was at 31 the world's youngest state leader.

What happened in parliament?

Opposition parties brought forward two no-confidence votes - one against Mr Kurz and the other against the government.

While the SPÖ control only 52 of the 183-seat lower house, the FPÖ - which holds 51 seats - also backed the motions, which needed only a simple majority to pass.

The left-wing environmentalist JETZT party voted to oust the chancellor and his government, although the liberal NEOS party reportedly backed Mr Kurz in a bid to avoid instability.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Kurz did well in Sunday's EU elections but it was not enough to save him

Mr Kurz's surprise strong showing in Sunday's European Union elections - winning a record 35% of the vote - was not enough to save him.

Speaking after the confidence vote, Mr Kurz pledged to support an interim government and insisted he and the ÖVP had "guaranteed stability" in Austria.

The parties ranged against Mr Kurz appeared to believe he should shoulder some of the blame for the fall of the coalition.

The Social Democrats said he should never have allied himself with the FPÖ in the first place. The FPÖ was still smarting from having had Mr Kurz replace all of its ministers with technocrats.

What's the video scandal about?

The video sting has widely been labelled "Ibiza-gate", after the Spanish island where the footage was recorded.

It was secretly filmed in July 2017 - just weeks before the election which saw both the FPÖ and Chancellor Kurz's party perform well.

Last week, a Vienna lawyer said he had been involved in the sting, describing it as a "civil society-driven project in which investigative-journalistic approaches were taken".

However, the lawyer did not reveal who was ultimately behind the operation, or who paid for it.

In the footage, released by German media this month, Mr Strache can be seen relaxing and drinking for hours at a villa with FPÖ parliament group leader Johann Gudenus, while they meet a woman, who says she is Alyona Makarova, the niece of Russian oligarch Igor Makarov.

Mr Strache appears to propose offering her public contracts if she buys a large stake in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung - and compels it to support the FPÖ.

He is heard suggesting that a number of journalists would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and that he wants to "build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban" - referring to Hungary's nationalist prime minister.

It later emerged that Mr Makarov does not have a niece, and the whole evening back in 2017 was an elaborate trap.

Mr Strache stood down hours after the video emerged.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Heinz-Christian Strache resigned after the footage emerged

President Van der Bellen then fired FPÖ Interior Minister Herbert Kickl at the request of Mr Kurz.

The move prompted the FPÖ's other ministers to resign in solidarity.

Despite the scandal, Austrian news agency APA reports that Mr Strache could possibly take a seat in the European parliament.

The former vice-chancellor had remained at the bottom of his party's election list for the European elections after his resignation. But under Austrian law he could take one of FPÖ's predicted three seats if enough people supported him as a candidate.

It is unclear whether Mr Strache will take a seat. </s> Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is ousted by parliament in no-confidence vote

BERLIN (AP) — Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is ousted by parliament in no-confidence vote. </s> VIENNA: Austria´s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, removing him and his cabinet from office over a corruption scandal that brought has down his coalition government.

"An application (by the opposition Social Democrats) has been accepted, so he has lost the confidence" of parliament, deputy speaker Doris Bures said. The move comes just after Kurz celebrated a big win for his conservative People´s Party (OeVP) in Sunday´s European elections, which is projected to gain 34.9 percent of the vote and two extra European parliament seats.

It comes in the wake of the so-called "Ibiza-gate" scandal, which saw FPOe leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resign from both posts after he was caught appearing to offer public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer.

That led to Kurz ending his coalition with the FPOe and calling early elections for the autumn, but the opposition say the 32-year-old leader must also take responsibility for the scandal. The no-confidence vote against Kurz and his government took place in a special sitting of parliament with more than half of MPs withdrawing their support, making him the shortest-serving chancellor, as well as the first in post-war Austrian history to be removed in this fashion.

Social Democrats (SPOe) leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner accused Kurz of an unprecedented "uncurbed and shameless power grab" when bringing forward the motion against him. Kurz´s former partner, the FPOe, also supported the motion. It is now up to President Alexander Van der Bellen to appoint experts to lead the government and all the ministries until the elections.

Speaking in parliament before the vote, Kurz accused the opposition of causing instability with the motion against his government, but said if the vote succeeded, he would ensure an orderly transition to whoever is appointed next.

The far-right, meanwhile, seemed to have suffered a setback in Sunday´s vote over "Ibiza-gate", falling from 19.7 percent to 17.2 percent and losing one of their four MEPs. The scandal erupted following the publication on May 17 of hidden-camera recordings filmed in a luxury villa on the holiday island of Ibiza a few months before Austria´s last parliamentary elections in 2017.

Amid a welter of embarrassing comments, Strache appeared to allude to a scheme channelling political donations through FPOe-linked foundations in order to avoid legal scrutiny. After Strache´s resignation, Kurz also sacked FPOe interior minister Herbert Kickl, arguing he could not oversee any possible investigation into his own party´s wrongdoing. FPOe ministers responded by walking out of the government en masse, leading to Kurz appointing experts to take their place in an interim government.

When he first became chancellor in late 2017, Kurz was widely hailed on the European right as someone who could successfully tap into surging anti-immigration sentiment while projecting a polished demeanour. Since the crisis broke, he has projected himself as a paragon of stability in a turbulent political climate, and analysts say this will be a key message for him to use.

But even before the current crisis, Kurz found himself constantly having to bat away criticism for alleged extremist sympathies among FPOe members.

The opposition has placed the blame for the current debacle squarely at the feet of Kurz himself for having invited the far-right into government in the first place, saying he had ample warning of the unsuitability of the FPOe for government. Kurz has trod a fine line in his statements since the crisis broke, admitting he found the FPOe´s antics "hard to swallow" but insisting he had no other choice. "There was no other party which was ready to form a coalition with us," he told journalists on Thursday, when asked whether he regretted the coalition. </s> Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has ruled out working together with Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, making Strache's resignation in the wake of a corruption scandal more likely.

The two men are due to meet later on Saturday morning, with the chancellor expected to make a statement at noon, but several news agencies, citing insider sources, have reported that Kurz has already decided against continuing to work with Strache.

Kurz's conservative Austrian People's People's (ÖVP) currently governs Austria in coalition with Strache's far-right FPÖ.

Strache's departure would leave the chancellor with the decision of either dissolving the government and calling new elections, or attempt to maintain his coalition with the FPÖ under a new leader.

Strache was caught on video offering business deals to a woman posing as a Russian oligarch's niece in exchange for her help boosting the FPÖ's news coverage.

The video, reportedly filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2017 but only disclosed on Friday evening, has triggered a crisis in the Austrian government, with opposition parties already demanding new elections.

In the video, parts of which have been released by Der Spiegel and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, a woman calling herself Alyona Makarova can be heard telling Strache and FPÖ parliamentary group leader Johann Gudenus that she is very wealthy and wants to buy a large block of shares at Austria's largest newspaper, the Kronen Zeitung.

She reportedly claims to be interested in the paper so that she can provide favorable pre-election coverage of the FPÖ. In return, she demands political favors. Strache and Gudenus also describe to her ways in which rich sponsors could donate to the FPÖ via non-profit organizations, so the donations do not become public.

Strache reportedly tells her that the Kronen Zeitung deal could push the FPÖ from 27% up to 34% in the vote, and proposes a number of ways in which he could repay the woman. The video was apparently recorded a few months before the Austrian national election in October 2017, when the FPÖ took 26% of the vote and entered government.

In a clip of the video that has been released, Strache tells the woman that if his party gains power, state contracts would be given to her supposed companies and no longer be awarded to Austrian construction giant Strabag.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz loses a no-confidence vote following a corruption scandal over a secret video.