VIENNA

Austria’s parliament voted Thursday to strip former chancellor Sebastian Kurz of his immunity as part of an investigation into corruption allegations.

The move against Kurz, the leader of the Austrian People’s Party (OVP), was made at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office of Economic Affairs and Corruption.

By lifting Kurz's immunity, the prosecution will further expand the scope of its investigation into the former chancellor.

On Oct. 9, Kurz stepped down as chancellor amid a corruption probe.

He is facing an investigation over charges of "bribery, corruption and breach of trust."

Kurz and some party associates are accused of transferring money to a newspaper and a think tank from the Finance Ministry’s budget between 2016 and 2018.

Investigators are also probing allegations that the beneficiaries manipulated the results of opinion polls in favor of Kurz and the OVP. ​​​​​​​