Far Right Tears Up Austria's Political Turf
Election: Anti-foreigner Freedom Party surges to second place. Long-ruling coalition calls it quits.
October 04, 1999|CAROL J. WILLIAMS | TIMES STAFF WRITER
http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/04/news/mn-18559
Summary:
The far-right Freedom Party, whose leader once praised the economic accomplishments of Adolf Hitler, soared in Sunday's general elections to become Austria's second-strongest political force and cripple the grand coalition that has ruled this nation for 13 years.Austria's most dramatic electoral upset of the post-World War II era edged the center-right People's Party into third place and stripped Chancellor Viktor Klima's Social Democrats of parliamentary seats.Thomas Prinzhorn, claiming he was obliged to serve out his term as governor of Carinthia rather than run himself as the party's likely contender for the chancellery. But he made clear after the results that he will be available in the event--however unlikely, in the view of other politicians--that he is asked by the president to form a new government.
How I Feel:
I feel that The rise of Haider's party from the extremist fringe to the heavyweight ranks reflects the deep discomfort felt by those in many regions of Western Europe. Although Austria's economy is booming and its jobless rate of 4.5% is the envy of the continent, Haider's blend of anti-foreigner rhetoric and concern for the common laborer struck a chord with countrymen fearful that membership in the European Union will expose Austrians to growing competition for new jobs.
Political Relation:
The two parties that have dominated politics in Austria since its independence from Allied control in 1955 have so saturated the public sector with appointments of friends and supporters that the bureaucracy is ossified--and so expensive that income taxes reach as high as 45%. as well as the fact that the Social Democrats have lost a lot of votes.
Election: Anti-foreigner Freedom Party surges to second place. Long-ruling coalition calls it quits.
October 04, 1999|CAROL J. WILLIAMS | TIMES STAFF WRITER
http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/04/news/mn-18559
Summary:
The far-right Freedom Party, whose leader once praised the economic accomplishments of Adolf Hitler, soared in Sunday's general elections to become Austria's second-strongest political force and cripple the grand coalition that has ruled this nation for 13 years.Austria's most dramatic electoral upset of the post-World War II era edged the center-right People's Party into third place and stripped Chancellor Viktor Klima's Social Democrats of parliamentary seats.Thomas Prinzhorn, claiming he was obliged to serve out his term as governor of Carinthia rather than run himself as the party's likely contender for the chancellery. But he made clear after the results that he will be available in the event--however unlikely, in the view of other politicians--that he is asked by the president to form a new government.
How I Feel:
I feel that The rise of Haider's party from the extremist fringe to the heavyweight ranks reflects the deep discomfort felt by those in many regions of Western Europe. Although Austria's economy is booming and its jobless rate of 4.5% is the envy of the continent, Haider's blend of anti-foreigner rhetoric and concern for the common laborer struck a chord with countrymen fearful that membership in the European Union will expose Austrians to growing competition for new jobs.
Political Relation:
The two parties that have dominated politics in Austria since its independence from Allied control in 1955 have so saturated the public sector with appointments of friends and supporters that the bureaucracy is ossified--and so expensive that income taxes reach as high as 45%. as well as the fact that the Social Democrats have lost a lot of votes.