VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s ruling coalition soldiered on on Sunday after Chancellor Sebastian Kurz quit https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austrias-kurz-says-stepping-down-chancellor-2021-10-09 to keep it alive, but a top newspaper likened his future role in parliament to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s stint as prime minister in name only.

Prosecutors placed Kurz under investigation https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/prosecutors-raid-austrian-conservatives-hq-fresh-headache-kurz-2021-10-06 last week on suspicion of corruption. Kurz has denied any wrongdoing. However, embarrassing text-message conversations that are part the investigation and were published in Austrian media already have done significant political damage.

Kurz had been questioned by the Greens party of the junior coalition. They demanded his head for the investigation but were satisfied with Kurz’s decision to resign on Saturday night. Kurz (35) will still be the leader of his conservative party, and will also continue to hold top positions as a lawmaker.

Kurz’s successor will be Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. A career diplomat, but a relative novice in politics, Schallenberg is also an ally and supporter of Kurz’s hardline immigration policy. Schallenberg met with Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens and Alexander Van der Bellen, Austria’s President on Sunday.

In an analysis published by Kronen Zeitung, the influential tabloid newspaper stated, “This tactical maneuver is reminiscent Russian President Vladimir Putin. He gave way to Dmitry Medvedev only for him to take control over again.” Kurz had only been leaving the top job temporarily.

Putin, who was President from 2000 to 2002, served as Prime Minister under Medvedev between 2008 and 2012. He then returned to power. Unsealed diplomatic cables from the United States at that time stated that Medvedev played “Robin to Putin’s Batman”.

Kurz didn’t mention any time limits on his exit from Chancellery. However, he stated that he was going to fight all allegations and leave open the question of whether or not he intends to return.

The extent of the damage caused by the spat to the coalition is not yet known.

Kurz, who is the party’s largest member in parliament and has never been challenged, was reappointed to his post in August with 99.4% of support.

“Sebastian Kurz in the shadows is chancellor,” Pamela RendiWagner (leader of opposition Social Democrats) said at a Saturday news conference, that Kurz “continues to pull the strings.”

Kurz was a prominent European conservative known for his strong stance against immigration. He became one the continent’s youngest leaders after forming a coalition in 2017 with the far-right Freedom Party, which fell in 2018. He was fired from Parliament but won the snap election.