Far-right strongman Kickl commits to project ‘fortress Austria’

1 year ago 36

Austria’s far-right, emboldened by consistently high opinion polls, is insisting on a veto on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, an investigation into COVID-19 measures and making Austria a country that does not accept asylum seekers.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has enjoyed a steady polling lead in Austria for over a year. Party chief Herbert Kickl has a firm grip on his party, and with the Austrian election less than a year away, he has been outlining his political ideas.

Citing “Islamic anti-Semitic acts in Central Vienna” as the direct consequence of “a failed asylum policy,” Kickl said during a press conference that he would make Austria into a ‘fortress’ if he came to power.

“Nothing else is what an FPÖ people’s Chancellor will initiate,” he added.

The country, therefore, needed an “asylum stop”. He said that previous governments had set limits on the number of asylum seekers, and he wanted one set at zero.

According to Kickl, Austria is “not responsible for Afghans, Syrians and Moroccans. Responsibility lies with the nearest safe country”.

On future coalition options, the far-right politician wants to maintain his path to power – because he largely relies on the centre-right ÖVP entering into a coalition with him.

The party would demonstrate that it is “always ready to join forces with Marxism and all that multiculturalism” to “stay at the feeding trough,” he stressed.

He also insists that Austria should veto Ukraine’s possible accession to the EU, which could happen during his tenure if he joins the government. Similar sentiments were expressed by Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Bóka, who visited Vienna on Wednesday in preparation for his country’s EU presidency.

COVID-19 and its aftermath continue to play a central role in Kickl’s rhetoric, with him kicking off the press conference by reminding journalists of the second anniversary of the country’s lockdowns and calling for a national apology.

“Under an FPÖ Chancellor of the people, there will be a large-scale investigation into this shameful phase of Austrian politics,” he stressed.

(Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | Euractiv.de)