Kurz On Ropes As Greens Calls For His Replacement

The launching of an official corruption investigation against Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz risks the stability of the gov't, with Kurz's removal/resignation, a new governing coalition being formed, or snap elections all potential outcomes.

• The junior partner in the governing coalition, the environmentalist Greens, called for Kurz's centre-right People's Party (OVP) to replace their leader with someone 'irreproachable' in order to maintain their support for the gov't. However, the OVP has refused to do this, with the party swinging its support behind the embattled chancellor.
• The Greens are in talks with opposition parties today, with the opposition seeking to launch a vote of no confidence against Kurz in a special session of the National Council on Tuesday 12 October.
• The three opposition parties - the centre-left Social Democrats, right-wing Freedom Party (FPO), and liberal NEOS - are set to seek the gov'ts ouster, making the Greens' decision crucial in deciding whether the gov't falls.
• Should the gov't fall, the OVP could seek to form a new gov't with the FPO, although given the party's support for ousting Kurz this could prove difficult. The opposition parties are believed to be keen to avoid a snap election, but given the only workable majority gov't would have to involve the OVP this could be a difficult prospect.