2019 Austrian legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Austria on 29 September 2019 to elect the 27th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament. The snap election was called in the wake of the Ibiza affair in May, which caused the resignation of Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and the collapse of the governing coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The government subsequently lost a motion of no confidence in parliament, before ÖVP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was replaced by non-partisan Brigitte Bierlein on an interim basis.
Image: Sebastian Kurz (2018 02 28) (cropped)
Image: 2019 Pamela Rendi Wagner (32995117698) (cropped)
Image: Norbert Hofer FPÖ Neujahrstreffen 2019
Image: Werner Kogler 2013 (cropped)
The Ibiza affair, also known as Ibiza-gate, was a political scandal in Austria involving Heinz-Christian Strache, the former vice chancellor of Austria and leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ), as well as Johann Gudenus, formerly a deputy leader of the Freedom Party.
Screenshot of the video that triggered the affair, showing Johann Gudenus (left), his wife Tajana (centre) and Heinz-Christian Strache (right) meeting with the sting operative in July 2017
Heinz-Christian Strache in 2020
Johann Gudenus in 2012
A rally on the Ballhausplatz on 18 May 2019 demanding an early election