Shortly after their resignations, the chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, of the centre-right Austrian People’s party (ÖVP), called snap elections, likely to be held in September. Though filmed in July 2017, the video was only leaked to journalists at Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung last week. Under Strache, however, the FPÖ took its pro-Russian tendencies to new extremes, signing a formal cooperation agreement with Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. The FPÖ is a key member of an alliance of European nationalist parties led by Matteo Salvini of Italy’s League. Opposition parties insist a full investigation into the scandal would only be possible if the FPÖ’s Herbert Kickl were to leave the interior ministry with immediate effect.

Source: The Guardian May 20, 2019 10:28 UTC