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Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is quitting politics, Austrian media reported Thursday.
The 35-year-old Kurz, who is still leader of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), served as chancellor from 2017 until 2019 and again from 2020 until 2021. He left the chancellery earlier this year when he was mired in a corruption probe. His first term in office also ended in a similar fashion, following the so-called Ibiza Scandal.
Kurz became a father last month and said this triggered his decision. The former chancellor said he had an epiphany when he saw his son for the first time.
The ÖVP scheduled a press conference for Thursday at 11:30 a.m. to provide more details on Kurz’s decision.
Kurz was succeeded as chancellor in October by Alexander Schallenberg, and Austrian media reported that Interior Minister Karl Nehammer is poised to take over from him as party leader.
A political talent sometimes dubbed “Wunderwuzzi” — whizzkid — in Austria, Kurz rose to international prominence in 2013, when he became foreign minister at the age of 27. He subsequently undertook a large-scale reform of the ÖVP, centered around himself.
Source: Politico
