Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been charged with giving false testimony in a parliamentary inquiry into a corruption scandal. Kurz, once considered a rising star in European politics, stepped down as Chancellor in 2021 amidst allegations of graft and misuse of public funds. The charges allege that Kurz lied about his involvement in the appointment of Thomas Schmid as head of the state-run company OeBAG.

If found guilty, Kurz could face up to three years in jail. Kurz has repeatedly denied the accusations against him and his trial is set to begin on October 18. The charges against Kurz are part of a larger corruption investigation that has plagued Austria's political landscape. Prosecutors are also investigating Kurz on suspicion of embezzling public funds for favorable media coverage to boost his political career.

The scandal has resulted in a significant drop in approval ratings for Kurz's conservative People's Party. In addition to his legal troubles, Kurz has become involved in several private international ventures, including a cybersecurity company with the former head of NSO Group, the Israeli firm behind the controversial Pegasus spyware. Despite the charges and ongoing investigations, Kurz maintains his innocence and looks forward to proving his innocence in court.