Far right wing party takes over in Austria!
For the next legislative period Austria will be reigned by a FPOe-dominated right wing government. No matter if Joerg Haider will be part of this government or not, politics will be dominated by the far right FPOe. According to new demographic surveys it is exactly this FPOe that benefits most from the political coalition with the conservative OeVP. Only one week after the final failure of the governmental negotiations between the social democrats (SPOe) and the OeVP, demographic evaluations make clear that the FPOe is already the number one party and that OeVP and the green party are struggling for third place. The new parties of the future government probably already secretly negotiated during the political dialog between SPOe and OeVP and now in breathtaking speed in a few days agree on a political program that, as far as it became public, contains issues that make you fear the worst.
Concerning legal affairs the last law reforms - initially the OeVP voted for - will be withdrawn. However, new tightened regulations in form of a zero-tolerance-system will follow. In the future also repeated minor crimes such as shoplifting will be prosecuted and the delinquents will face years of imprisonment. Suggestions such as "work therapy" for drug addicts are made by FPOe politicians. Pretending to fight against childhood pornography penal codes will be changed ending in life-long imprisonment for childhood and teenager abuse. However, the definition of teenager abuse seems to be kind of flexible in a country, which has a "protective age" of 18 years for gay people . In view of this radical law enforcement the number of convicts will double or triple within a short period of time. While minor crimes will be intensively prosecuted major economical delinquents will still go free.
Such a political coalition between right wing and conservative forces will also threaten social achievements. Various forms of forced labor as well as raising the age of retirement are discussed, and in addition it is now targeted that social offices should make extra money, what will lead to further reductions for unemployed people. The reduction and then abolishment of kindergartens, women houses, advisory boards, and so on will finance "Maternity money for all". Tuition fees for university education will have to be paid. The department of women affairs will disappear or even better be melted in one ministry of generations dealing with the concerns of elderly people, youth, family, and environment.
In comparison to international standards the variety of Austria's public media is incredibly limited and now due to the abolishment of press support money will be even more reduced. Especially the existence of the few liberal quality newspapers is now threatened. The ORF (Austrian television and radio) will be brought to conform with governmental ideas.
Particularly those who have been the aim of political agitation of the FPOe in the past will suffer under the new government: migrants and refugees. Joerg Haider in the name of his party promises zero immigration but guarantees that the Austrian economics will be kept running by seasonal workers who will receive short-time residential and working permits. As soon as they are not needed any more they will be kicked out of the country without a second thought. Without any legal rights and living in kind of a ghetto they will not be able to organize themselves and thus will be freely exposed to exploitation and racism. Together with Jewish Austrians these migrants will suffer from the rage of the crowd of supporters of the newly formed right wing government. People will feel encouraged by the government to take their right in their own hands and to enforce the law in their own way in that they take steps against foreigners and refugees but also gays and lesbians. The intimidation of these people does not necessarily require state actions because FPOe supporters can help them out and will in no way be prosecuted.
Only tremendous resistance within the country and pressure from outside can prevent the worst. Both will need a long breath. We thus ask all our friends and comrades in the world to take actions against Austrian departments and authorities, to protest and boycott this country.
