Austria: Jorg Haider's Grasp for Power

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 47, S. 23-26

Abstract

Explores the rise to power by Jorg Haider, leader of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party (FP), which won 27% of the vote in the 1999 elections, & later joined with the conservative People's Party to form a new government that ended dominance by the Social Democrats. The implications for foreign policy are examined, noting threats by other members of the Council of the European Union (EU) to suspend bilateral contacts with Austria. Haider has openly praised Hitler's policies & his antiimmigrant campaign focuses on ending "foreign infiltration." A discussion of various reasons offered for Haider's ascent to power suggests that, even though Austria is enjoying a boom economy, his electoral support represents a protest vote rather than endorsement of right-wing extremism. Haider professes to represent the "little man," promising to protect Austria from attacks by the outside world & to keep immigrants from taking work from natives. It is suggested that banishment from within the EU, complemented by resistance within civil society, offer the best hope for stopping Haider's ascent to full power. J. Lindroth