Austrian president consoles public in wake of coalition gov't collapse

"Austria is just not like this," he said of the ongoing drama in a televised address about a recent corruption scandal, which has led to the collapse of the coalition government.

The affair began on Friday evening when German media released secret video footage dating back to 2017, which appears to show now-former Vice-Chancellor and leader of the right-wing populist Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache proposing government contracts to representatives of a Russian oligarch in exchange for political aid during a meeting on the resort island of Ibiza.

Strache resigned from all posts shortly after. In the wake of the scandal, Interior Minister Herbert Kickl was dismissed by Van der Bellen at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative People's Party in the coalition government, which lead to resignations of the remaining Freedom Party ministers.

Van der Bellen said in his address that politicians should not all be seen in the same light, even though he understands that many people think "they are all the same."

They were chosen by the people to serve their country, and must be able to decide "what is proper and what is not," he said.

He also urged the various political parties not to use the current situation for campaigning, saying it is "not the time."

Image: Wikimedia Commons