Austria: What does Sebastian do shortly after his resignation?
After his resignation from all political offices, the state wages for the former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (35) will soon dry up. Permanent pensions for politicians in Austria were abolished as early as 1997. Previously, entitlement to a politician’s pension could be acquired through four years of employment in a government or eight to ten years of membership in parliament or a state parliament.
Kurz was Austrian Chancellor from 2017 to 2019 and again from 2020 to 2021. On October 9th, he filed for resignation because of an investigation by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office against him.
High pension in Switzerland?
The ex-chancellor cannot expect a pension until the end of his life. At Blick’s request, the Federal Chancellery in Vienna said: “As Federal Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz is not entitled to continued payment of his salary because he has accepted his mandate from the National Council.”
A press conference: This is how ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz explains his withdrawal(03:39)
Sebastian Kurz can comfort himself: With such a short term of office, even a Swiss Federal Councilor would not receive a pension. In Switzerland, a pension is only paid after four years in office. But then you get it right: At the moment, that’s 227,290 francs per year, which is half the Federal Council’s wage. Attempts to abolish this pension have so far failed.
However, Kurz will not end up completely empty. According to “Ö24” For six months, 75 percent of his last salaries as parliamentary group leader of the ÖVP in the National Council beckon to him – an office that he took over after his resignation as Chancellor. In addition, there are Christmas and vacation bonuses, which makes up another monthly salary. Kurz recently received 15,153 euros, now it will be 11,365 euros seven times. Specifically: 79,555 euros.
However, it remains to be seen whether he will ever take advantage of this pension. When he informed him about the withdrawal, Kurz had announced that he would soon take up a new position. Austrian media meanwhile speculate that the ex-chancellor could take a job at Google, Facebook or Axel Springer. Another rumor is also said to be circulating in ÖVP circles: Kurz could go to Stanford University in California – as a stepping stone for Silicon Valley. (gf)
