Far-right party enters Austrian government
19 December 2017
The entry Monday of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) into the Austrian government marks a political turning point for all of Europe. In a country traditionally seen in the post-World War II period as part of Western Europe, where anti-fascism became a pillar of the official state ideology following the crimes of Hitler’s Third Reich, politicians with close ties to the neo-Nazi scene and ultra-right circles are wielding power. The police, military and intelligence services are all controlled by FPÖ ministers.
When the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) first formed a coalition government 17 years ago with the FPÖ, led at the time by Jörg Haider, it provoked an international wave of protest and outrage. The European Union imposed sanctions on Vienna. This time around, nothing of the kind has taken place. Instead, the new government has been met with praise and support.
“The FPÖ has joined the mainstream of European politics,” wrote Vienna’s Der Standard. The Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung described the government’s program as “right-wing conservative with a few symbolic policies, but overall solid and with good approaches.” For the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the new government is “first of all a degree of democratic normality.” It is not necessary to like the government, the newspaper adds, “but it should be respected.”
Die Welt opined that there is no benefit to “pillorying Austria’s new government.” It should be “given a chance.” The newspaper advised Europe to “react calmly,” adding, “Austria is not on the edge of the abyss, as we hear from the left.” Germany’s government spokesman declared that Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German government as a…