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• Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz charged with perjury.
• Kurz was accused of providing false testimony to a parliamentary committee.
• Kurz denies accusations and says he looks forward to clearing his name in court.

Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been accused by Austria’s Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of providing untrue testimony.

The prosecutors in Vienna assert that Kurz provided false information during his appearance before an Austrian parliamentary committee, which was investigating potential instances of bribery and corruption within his government.

Specifically, the allegations pertain to his responses regarding the appointment of an executive to the governing board of Austria’s sovereign wealth fund, known as the state-holding company Öbag.

The prosecutors have stated that this offense carries a maximum punishment of three years of imprisonment.

Additionally, charges have been filed against Kurz’s former aide, Bernhard Bonelli, as well as another individual whose identity has not been disclosed by the prosecutors.

This information was conveyed in an official statement.

Initially hailed as a prodigy in European politics, Kurz achieved the distinction of becoming Austria’s youngest-ever chancellor and the youngest leader in Europe in 2017.

This achievement came as he guided his center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) to a triumphant victory in the elections.

In May 2019, his government faced a vote of no-confidence after a corruption scandal triggered by a covertly recorded video featuring his vice-chancellor, Heinz-Christian Strache.

Despite this setback, Kurz and his party staged a comeback by emerging victorious in a general election held in September of the same year.

Kurz ultimately stepped down from his role as chancellor in October 2021, shortly after his office underwent a search by prosecutors who were investigating him and his close associates on suspicions of bribery and breach of trust.

A few months later, he announced his departure from the realm of politics.