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Austrian chancellor set to face confidence vote next week

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, of the Austrian People's Party, OEVP, right, arrives to address the media for a news conference in Vienna, Austria, Monday, May 20, 2019. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has called for an early election after the resignation of his vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache from the Freedom Party spelled an end to his governing coalition. (AP Photo/Michael Gruber)

BERLIN — Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is expected to face a no-confidence vote in parliament next week after his governing coalition collapsed over a corruption scandal.

Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka, a member of Kurz’s conservative People’s Party, set a special session of the legislature for Monday. The Austria Press Agency reported Tuesday that opposition parties wanted it held Wednesday, but Sobotka said he wanted to “give space to the EU election campaign.” Austria elects European Parliament lawmakers Sunday.

The opposition Now party has drawn up a no-confidence motion seeking to oust Kurz before an early national election expected in September.

Kurz called for that election after far-right Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache, who was his vice chancellor, resigned Saturday. Strache was shown on video appearing to offer favours to a purported Russian investor.

The Associated Press