Vienna, April 17, 2026
Heinz-Christian Strache, Austria’s former vice-chancellor and leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), will stand trial starting May 19 on charges of corruption related to the appointment of a party-affiliated manager to the board of state-owned Casinos Austria AG.
Charges and Allegations
The case centers on allegations that Strache accepted or granted undue advantages in connection with the 2017 appointment of Peter Sidlo, an FPÖ-linked manager, to the board of Casinos Austria AG. Prosecutors allege the appointment was part of a broader pattern of political favoritism during Strache’s tenure in government.
The investigation began in June 2019 after an anonymous complaint raised suspicions about the Sidlo appointment. Strache, who served as vice-chancellor from 2017 until 2019, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The trial will be held at the Landesgerichts Wien (Vienna Regional Court), with eight trial days scheduled through July 2.
Trial Logistics and Overlapping Cases
The initial trial dates, however, were originally allocated for a separate case involving Strache—the so-called "Causa Lebensversicherung" (Life Insurance Affair), which revolves around alleged kickbacks tied to a state-run insurance company. The overlap highlights the legal challenges Strache has faced since leaving office.