China News Service, February 24 (Xinhua) According to comprehensive foreign media reports, on the 23rd local time, the Vienna District Court convicted former Austrian Prime Minister and Chairman of the Austrian People's Party Sebastian Kurz of perjury and sentenced him to an eight-month suspended sentence. He was previously accused of perjury during a parliamentary hearing.

　　According to Reuters, on the same day, District Court Judge Michael Radazzi, who presided over the trial, said in his ruling that "Sebastian Kurtz is guilty," and announced that Kurtz was sentenced to eight months in prison with a suspended sentence. implement.

Data map: Former Austrian Chancellor Kurz.  

　　According to reports, on the same day, prosecutors from the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office showed relevant evidence in court, including some text messages and the testimony of an important witness - Thomas Schmid, Kurtz's former confidant and leader of the National Wealth Fund.

　　Later, Kurtz called the ruling "grossly unfair," and said he would continue to appeal.

　　According to previous reports, Kurz, who was born in 1986, was once considered "Europe's youngest head of government" and served as Austria's prime minister twice. He was only 31 years old when he first became prime minister in 2017.

However, Kurz was exposed to many corruption scandals during his administration, including using taxpayers' money for political propaganda and manipulating appointments to public offices.

　　At a hearing in the Austrian Parliament in 2020, Kurz was asked to answer questions about corruption, and was subsequently accused of providing false testimony to the hearing.

Kurtz said at the hearing that he was not involved in the appointment of the head of the state-owned holding company, the National Wealth Fund. However, chat text messages later exposed by the media showed that the person involved had sent a message to Kurtz, "I am so happy. Yes, I love my Prime Minister."

　　Local media in Austria stated that Kurz resigned as prime minister in October 2021.

For some time afterwards, he continued to control the political situation behind the scenes.

At the end of 2021, Kurz announced his complete retirement from politics.