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Strache was shown in the footage of as-yet unknown origin
meeting a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch in
2017, shortly before the election that brought him to power.
In the footage published by German media on Friday evening, he
appears to offer to funnel contracts toward a company in
exchange for political and financial support.
"It was dumb, it was irresponsible and it was a mistake,"
Strache told a news conference, fighting back tears as he asked
his wife and others to forgive him. He maintained, however, that
he had done nothing illegal.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is expected to make a
statement later on Saturday as speculation swirled about whether
the damage would be limited to Strache or if Kurz would call a
snap election only a year and a half after the coalition was
formed.
Kurz has repeatedly distanced himself from the FPO over lesser
scandals to protect his popularity.
Strache said he would be replaced by Transport Minister Norbert
Hofer, who narrowly lost 2016's presidential election and is
more popular than Strache.
"I do not in any circumstances want my wrong behavior to provide
a pretext for the government to collapse," Strache said.
(Additional reporting by Michael Shields in Zurich; Editing by
Jane Merriman and Alison Williams)
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