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| Austrian finance minister's home raided in anti-corruption probe amid calls for him to resign | Austrian finance minister's home raided in anti-corruption probe amid calls for him to resign |
| (7 months later) | |
| Police have raided the home of Austrian finance minister Gernot Bluemel, a party ally of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, as part of an anti-corruption investigation into the conservative People's Party (OVP). | Police have raided the home of Austrian finance minister Gernot Bluemel, a party ally of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, as part of an anti-corruption investigation into the conservative People's Party (OVP). |
| The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether a quid-pro-quo arrangement was made between Austria's previous coalition government and the state-backed gaming company Casinos Austria, through which Bluemel and the OVP allegedly accepted donations for political favors. | The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether a quid-pro-quo arrangement was made between Austria's previous coalition government and the state-backed gaming company Casinos Austria, through which Bluemel and the OVP allegedly accepted donations for political favors. |
| The politician is suspected of helping install Peter Sidlo, of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO), as chief financial officer of Casinos Austria in 2019, despite his reported lack of experience. | The politician is suspected of helping install Peter Sidlo, of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO), as chief financial officer of Casinos Austria in 2019, despite his reported lack of experience. |
| Gaming company Novomatic, which was one of three major shareholders in Casinos Austria at the time, is suspected of backing Sidlo's appointment in return for gambling licences from the then-FPO-OVP coalition government. | Gaming company Novomatic, which was one of three major shareholders in Casinos Austria at the time, is suspected of backing Sidlo's appointment in return for gambling licences from the then-FPO-OVP coalition government. |
| Bluemel confirmed on Thursday that he had been listed as a suspect in the investigation, adding that he was cooperating with police and had handed over documents and electronic devices. | Bluemel confirmed on Thursday that he had been listed as a suspect in the investigation, adding that he was cooperating with police and had handed over documents and electronic devices. |
| The politician and Novomatic have each rejected the allegations that any donations were made. | The politician and Novomatic have each rejected the allegations that any donations were made. |
| "We would never and never did accept donations from gambling firms, especially if in addition something were expected in exchange," Bluemel said in a statement. | "We would never and never did accept donations from gambling firms, especially if in addition something were expected in exchange," Bluemel said in a statement. |
| Beate Meinl-Reisinger, leader of Austrian liberal party NEOS, said on Thursday that Bluemel "must resign." | Beate Meinl-Reisinger, leader of Austrian liberal party NEOS, said on Thursday that Bluemel "must resign." |
| "A finance minister who has their house searched in the event of gambling can no longer remain finance minister and must face the consequences," she said. | "A finance minister who has their house searched in the event of gambling can no longer remain finance minister and must face the consequences," she said. |
| The FPO and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) have also called for Bluemel's immediate resignation. | The FPO and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) have also called for Bluemel's immediate resignation. |
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