Europe's centrists draw on Austrian scandal to issue far-right warning

Mainstream parties hope voters will shun populists in wake of 'politicians for sale' revelation

• Austria's 'Ibiza scandal': what happened and why does it matter?

Politicians from mainstream parties across Europe have called on voters to shun the far right in this week's European elections after Austria's vice-chancellor resigned over a video sting that showed him offering public contracts in exchange for financial and campaign backing.

Heinz-Christian Strache stepped down on Saturday after the footage emerged. Hours later, Austria's chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, announced snap elections, ending the 18-month ruling coalition between his centre-right Austrian People's party (i-VP) and Strache's far-right Freedom party (FPi-).