Austria: Disgraced ex-vice chancellor Strache returns to politics

C/U Austrian former Vice-Chancellor and ex-Freedom Party (FPO) leader Heinz-Christian Strache arriving at launch event for new party The Alliance for Austria (DAO), Vienna
W/S Strache surrounded by press
M/S Strache greeting people and surrounded by press
W/S Audience applauding
C/U Strache
W/S Strache waves at audience
M/S Strache
W/S Strache stepping on stage
M/S People taking photo of Strache
W/S Strache on stage
SOT, Heinz-Christian Strache, Austrian former vice-chancellor (German): "Yes, I did a big mistake. I was talking embarrassingly, stupidly at this evening in 2017. And I was lured into the trap. As it already was told: how many private evenings has everyone experienced, where one was private, drunk and was talking nonsense. Luckily no-one is getting filmed in this way. That is the private sphere and should stay that way."
W/S Audience applauding
W/S Strache speaking at podium
W/S Audience
SOT, Heinz-Christian Strache, Austrian former vice-chancellor (German): "It does not make sense to look back in the rear-view mirror. I am now only looking forward. Together with you, if I can secure your support."
W/S Audience applauding
M/S Strache speaking at podium
W/S Camerapeople
SOT, Heinz-Christian Strache, Austrian former vice-chancellor (German): "I won't let you down. Together with you, I will stand up for politics. For a decent, modern, freedom, citizen's movement, which has been burning inside me for years."
W/S Audience applauding
SOT, Heinz-Christian Strache, Austrian former vice-chancellor (German): "My new way is starting today. My motivation, my energy source is coming from your support and your belief in me. Dear friends, I was always a political person. That is me and I will always be like that. Today, I am here as guest speaker and I am back on the political stage. Good luck."
W/S Strache leaving stage
M/S Strache giving autographs
W/S Strache giving autographs
C/U Strache posing for selfies
W/S Event hall
SCRIPT
Austria's former vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache returned to politics on Thursday night, eight months after his role in the Ibiza affair forced him to resign and brought down the Austrian government.
Strache's comeback was at the launch of a new party: The Alliance for Austria (DAO) in Vienna.
He said he was no longing looking in the "rear-view mirror" but instead "looking forward".
The new political grouping was formed by several fellow Freedom Party (FPO) politicians, disillusioned with the party's treatment of its former leader Strache.
The far-right politician was expelled last December for his part after video footage emerged of him offering to fix government contracts in exchange for positive press coverage from a woman purporting to be the niece of a Russian oligarch.
The sting led to the collapse of the coalition between the FPO and conservatives led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and an electoral setback for the FPO in subsequent snap elections.