Austria’s former chancellor on trial for allegedly misleading corruption inquiry

Sebastian Kurz, former ‘wunderkind’ of Europe’s conservatives, said he is innocent and condemned ‘politicisation’ of case

Austria’s former chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, insisted he was innocent as he went on trial for allegedly giving false testimony to an inquiry into corruption scandals that have rocked the country.

Once hailed as a “wunderkind” of Europe’s conservatives, Kurz is the highest-profile figure implicated in a series of scandals. The case marks the first time in more than 30 years that a former chancellor has stood trial.