23 May 2019 | 08:14 PM UTC
Austria: Demonstration reported in Vienna May 23
Protesters march through central Vienna May 23 calling for resignation of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz; heightened security presence and transportation disruptions anticipated over coming hours
Event
A demonstration has been reported in Vienna as of Thursday evening (local time), May 23, to call for the resignation of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. According to local sources, thousands of people have marched through central Vienna since 18:00, with large gatherings reported at the Westbahnhof rail station and outside the headquarters of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).
A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions are to be anticipated in central Vienna over the coming hours.
Context
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) has faced increasing pressure to resign after a video emerged on May 17 of Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache offering lucrative business deals to a person posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch. Strache resigned on May 18. President Alexander Van der Bellen approved a new caretaker government on May 22 after Kurz's former government collapsed. Kurz, who retains the position of chancellor in the caretaker government, has resisted calls to step down.
Advice
Individuals in Vienna are advised to monitor the situation, budget additional time to reach their destinations, seek alternate routes, anticipate transportation disruptions and a heightened security presence, and avoid all protests as a precaution.
