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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAustrian Leader Calls for Snap Election After Far-Right Vice Chancellor Resigns
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/18/world/europe/austria-strache-resigns-video.htmlAustrian Leader Calls for Snap Election After Far-Right Vice Chancellor Resigns
By Katrin Bennhold and Christopher F. Schuetze
May 18, 2019
BERLIN Austrias leadership was thrown into turmoil on Saturday after a video emerged that raised questions about whether Russia had direct influence inside a government at the heart of Europe.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called snap elections after the countrys far-right vice chancellor resigned over a secretly filmed video from 2017. The video showed Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache of the far-right Freedom Party promising government contracts to a woman claiming to be a prospective investor and niece of a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir V. Putin.
The meeting appears to have been a setup. But it exposed the Freedom Partys apparent eagerness to do business with allies of Mr. Putin.
After yesterdays video, I have to honestly say, enough is enough, Mr. Kurz told a room packed with reporters on Saturday night in the capital Vienna. He said he had asked Austrias president to hold a new election as soon as possible.
The video was the worst in a series of missteps that ultimately brought down Austrias governing coalition. It raised anew concerns about whether the Freedom Party had been actively working to undermine liberal democracy and media freedoms in the country while it helped Mr. Kurz govern as the junior party in his coalition.
For weeks, opposition parties had called on Mr. Kurz to end his controversial coalition with the Freedom Party, with its well-documented links to far-right extremists and to Russia, which have increasingly worried allies at home and abroad.
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Austrian Leader Calls for Snap Election After Far-Right Vice Chancellor Resigns (Original Post)
dalton99a
May 2019
OP
"Putin toldme that he had nothing to do with the Australian election. I believe him!"
toddwv
May 2019
#6
What can we (I include other countries affected) do about Putin and his merry men interfering in the
monmouth4
May 2019
#2
It already has and it's already on tape with Paul Ryan/McCarthy whatever scumbag taking note
UniteFightBack
May 2019
#4
Andy823
(11,495 posts)1. I am sure Russia will deny any connections
And I am sure that trump will do the right thing, for Putin, and say "he told me he didn't do it, and I believe him!
toddwv
(2,830 posts)6. "Putin toldme that he had nothing to do with the Australian election. I believe him!"
monmouth4
(9,685 posts)2. What can we (I include other countries affected) do about Putin and his merry men interfering in the
business and elections in other countries. As he continues to get away with it, he will continue. I've about had it with that guy.
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)3. K&R, nah... Russian influence here can't happen here in the US
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)4. It already has and it's already on tape with Paul Ryan/McCarthy whatever scumbag taking note
of the Russian Republicans.
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)5. +1, I agree ... No way they broker into systems for the hell of it