Society & Politics

Rightwing populism in Austria (FPÖ)

tallandsweet

This may come across as a rant, but I’ve had enough. I’m talking about the FPÖ (Freiheitliche Partei Österreich=Freedom Party of Austria) here, and also discuss the scandals of 2019 associated with this party briefly.

I grew up in Austria and love living here, it’s really beautiful and I appreciate what I have more than anyone can probably imagine. My parents are both Austrian, my grandparents are Austrian and Danish and my great-grandparents are Hungarian, Austrian and Danish.

What does it mean to be Austrian?

Austria-Hungary used to be an empire. Then, Austria contributed to starting WWI, during which the empire collapsed. Austria was sanctioned and out of frustration over the peace treaty of Versailles (which was frustrating for other countries too) as well as because both Germany and Austria sought a leader, which is one of the reasons why Hitler was so successful. This is all extremely oversimplified, but bear with me.

A teacher of mine once said that only Austrians know how to make Bach and Beethoven theirs and everyone else believe that Hitler was German, when really, he was born in Braunau, Upper Austria. I’m getting goosebumps as I’m writing this because of the implications of this simple coincidence; there are still many rightwing people living there, the vice-mayor of Braunau had to step down because of a racist poem (it says that migrants are rats) he supported, read more on Twitter (picture of the poem).

I’m disgusted by the definition of “Heimat” of the FPÖ, they act like we can be proud about being born into a beautiful country and shame people from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, although Pakistan's landscape is similar to Austria's.

Kaghan valley, Pakistan
Kaghan valley, Pakistan
Gosausee/Lake Gosau, Austria
Gosausee/Lake Gosau, Austria

Heinz-Christian Strache

The FPÖ's leader, HC Strache, got other countries' attention when the "Ibiza" video was leaked, a setup where he is seen talking to a Russian "oligarch" (who was hired). The conversation circles around the topic of how the Russian lady can donate money to the FPÖ without this causing too big of a stir - and he then goes on to explain how if she bought/took over the "Kronenzeitung", Austria's biggest daily newspaper, the FPÖ could "push" their candidates before the election.

Strache is known for being part of the Neonazi-scene in his younger years.

Strache as a young man
Strache as a young man

In this picture, he is shown with the "Kühnengruß", an alteration of the "Hitlergruß", where the right arm is extended "from the neck into the air with a straightened hand". The "Hitlergruß" is illegal in Austria and Germany, but not in Switzerland, and the "Kühnengruß" isn't illegal. The picture meant that he was expected to admit that he was involved with Neonazis. However, Strache said that he was "simply ordering three beers".

The Kühnengruß is supposed to form a W, standing for "Widerstand", resistance.

The headline reads Strache: Nazi-greeting? and The boss of the FPÖ is under pressure (to say something)
The headline reads "Strache: Nazi-greeting?" and "The boss of the FPÖ is under pressure (to say something)"

Here's a video by the Guardian on the "Ibiza" leak:

And here's a parody by "Stermann & Grissemann", a german and an austrian comedian, where they imitate HC Strache and Johann Gudenus (the statements are altered but stick to the orginial, for example "I'm the Red Bull brother from Austria" is something Strache really said):

Johann Gudenus

The other person that appeared in the video is Johann Gudenus, here's a great German article on him. His father, John Gudenus, is a convicted Holocaust denier, and his grandfather, Johann Baptist Gudenus was a member of the SA (Sturmabteilung, storm troopers).

He studied in Moscow, which is why he speaks Russian fluently (apparently, I don't speak it, maybe some Russians here could say whether this is true or not).

What everyone should learn from this and a note on Sebastian Kurz

The famous statement of former chancellor Sebastian Kurz (the guy in the video of the Guardian) "Genug ist genug" (enough is enough) came very late, after the FPÖ had been involved in many scandals.

Sebastian Kurz is one of the world's youngest politicians; for example, at 27, when he became the youngest foreign minister in the history of Austria, and is now a member of the Austrian parliament-

It's important that even with freedom of speech we make sure racist comments are not supported by governments, as this is the equivalent to spreading hate.

Bernd Lucke, Universität Hamburg

As far as the protests surrounding Bernd Lucke, the co-founder of the right-wing party in Germany, the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland=Alternative for Germany), go, they "gehen weit am Ziel vorbei" as we'd say. How is protesting against a mandatory lecture at a public university not spreading hate as well?

Rightwing populism

In Central Europe, we have right-wing populists and we've learned to accept them, let's not forget that. Everyone has an opinion, but neither chancellors nor presidents should spread negativity through either making racist remarks themselves or not trying to put an end to them.

With all the scandals that went down in Austria in 2019, it's time to put them behind us and look forward.

And to never forget that Sebastian Kurz definitely isn't a "Sozi", but rather center-right. Here's a video from when he was the foreign minister in 2015:

What do you think about this?

Are there rightwing parties in your country too?

Rightwing populism in Austria (FPÖ)
Post Opinion
6 Opinion