The motion was backed by ministers from the Social Democrats and the far-right Freedom Party, which was in coalition with Mr Kurz until a week ago, when their leader and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache became embroiled in a video sting and stepped down. The Austrian Chancellor then ended their 17-month-long alliance, and attempted to lead what was effectively a minority Government. Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen must now appoint a Chancellor to form a new Government that can gain Parliament’s support until the next national election, which is expected to take place in September.
The latest move has created history because Mr Kurz – the world’s youngest state leader at 32-years-old – becomes the first Chancellor in post-war Austrian history to lose a no confidence vote.
Opposition party the Social Democrats had brought forward two separate no confidence vote – one against the Chancellor and the other against the Austrian Government.
The Social Democrats, who hold 52 out of the 183 seats in the lower house, teamed up with the Freedom Party, which accounts for 51 seats.
They agreed to back the motions, which only needed a simple majority to pass.
Despite the scandal, Mr Kurz performed well in Sunday’s European elections, coming out on top with a projected 35 percent of the vote.
But the surprising success failed to save the Austrian Chancellor.
Ahead of the confidence vote, Mr Kurz told Austrian ministers: “To topple the government a few months before an election is something few people in this country can understand.
He had also taken to Facebook to accuse the opposition parties of a “game of revenge”.
He wrote: “Parliament will have its say on Monday.
“But at the end of the day the people will decide, namely in September.”
But the Freedom Party’s Herbert Kickl, the Interior Minister forced out of office last week by Mr Kurz, had predicted a different outcome.
He told ministers: “This power grab is disgusting, and voters will decide about that, too, in September.”
Minutes before submitting the no confidence vote, Social Democrats’ (SPO) deputy parliamentary faction head Joerg Leichtfried said in a speech: “Kurz gambled away his chances and, Mr Chancellor, you bear full responsibility.”
Freedom Party leader Mr Strache immediately resigned from all his political posts after video footage emerged of him appearing to discuss fixing Government contracts, which was published by two German media outlets.
Prosecutors in Vienna said they are investigating the video “in multiple directions”.
Mr Strache has denied doing anything illegal.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.