AUSTRIA’S Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday became the first chancellor in the country’s post-war history to be removed from office by a no-confidence vote over a corruption scandal that had already brought down his coalition with the far-right.

Vice Chancellor Hartwig Loeger will lead the Austrian Government on an interim basis until the election in September, announced President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday evening.

The motion against Kurz and his Cabinet is the latest fallout from the so-called “Ibiza-gate” scandal, which saw far-right Freedom Party (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.

The video led to Kurz ending his coalition with the FPOe and calling early elections for later this year. But that did not stop opposition parties from tabling the no-confidence motion and insisting that the 32-year-old leader must also take responsibility for the scandal.

Despite Monday’s vote, Kurz will take comfort in a big win for his conservative People’s Party in European elections, which is projected to gain 34.9 percent of the vote and two extra European parliament seats.  (SD-Agencies)