Maurer pointed out that the Austrian People’s Party (OPV) has the responsibility to appoint an impeccable and above-board person to continue at the head of the government, while investigations into a case of embezzlement and bribery continue.

Kurz is constantly defending himself from accusations and that makes him a very difficult person to work with, someone like him does not fit into this charge, she said.

According to the Austrian Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Kurz, nine of his collaborators and three legal entities are accused of diverting funds from the Ministry of Finance to pay for the publication in the media of surveys favorable to the politician and the OPV.

The crimes were perpetrated between 2016 and 2018, a period during which the current head of government was serving as head of Foreign Affairs and intended to continue climbing in his career.

In the framework of the investigations, searches were carried out on Thursday at the OPV headquarters and at the Chancellery, where officers seized cell phones and other electronic devices.

Kurz also faces charges of false testimony during investigations into a corruption scandal involving the ultra-nationalist Freedom Party of Austria.

The day before, the politician met with President Alexander Van der Bellen and asked to take into account the presumption of innocence, as well as to continue with the coalition government.

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