Far-Right on brink of power in Austria
AUSTRIA was close to ushering in europe’s first far-Right leader since the Second World War last night on a wave of public anger over immigration.
A knife-edge vote in the presidential elections put norbert Hofer, from the anti-immigrant Freedom Party, neck-and-neck with Greenbacked independent Alexander van der Bellen.
The final victor is not likely to be known until today, when 900,000 postal ballots are counted.
Last night the 4.48million direct votes cast plunged the opponents into a statistical dead heat.
But experts suggested the postal votes could favour Mr Hofer as they were more likely to be cast by older people who are more Right-wing.
The popularity of 45-year-old Mr Hofer has been fuelled by concerns over immigration. The country of just 8.6million people has received 90,000 refugees last year and is expected to host a further 75,000 this year.
Mr Hofer, who often carries a Glock pistol for ‘protection’, used his last preelection gathering to deliver a message with anti-Muslim overtones.
‘To those in Austria who go to war for the Islamic State, or rape women, I say to those people “This is not your home”,’ he told a cheering crowd.
He has previously been criticised for remarks such as ‘Islam has no place in Austria’ but has tried to recast the party as being to the left of the US Democrats. He also contends that the Freedom Party has the support of Jews.
After voting began yesterday, Mr Hofer
‘Anti-Muslim overtones’
said: ‘I have to work. And then everybody will see, that I am really Ok. I’m not a dangerous person.’
At his final rally, Mr Van der Bellen, 72, said he was for ‘ an open, europe-friendly, europe-conscious Austria’ – in direct contrast to what Mr Hofer is offering. Mr Van der Bellen has said he would not swear in a Freedom Party chancellor even if that party wins the next elections, scheduled within the next two years.
The support for both ‘ mavericks’ in the presidential run-off breaks a 70 year stranglehold over Austrian politics by two mainstream parties – the centre-Left Social Democrats and the centre-Right People’s party.
The government has tried to clamp down on immigration and asylum since last year, but that has failed to slow rising support for the Freedom Party.
Although the office of president is usually ceremonial, the president is also commander in chief of Austria’s military. Mr Hofer has already threatened to dismiss any government that ignores his warnings over immigration.
THE supposedly politically independent head of NHS England made the bloodcurdling (and totally uncorroborated) prediction yesterday that leaving the EU could put the lives of 30,000 cancer patients at risk.
Simon Stevens, a former adviser to Tony Blair, said Brexit could plunge the economy into ‘tailspin’, driving up the cost of medicines and choking off spending on vital services. To be fair, Mr Stevens does know something about hurtling towards economic disaster. He is currently presiding over a £2.45billion spending deficit – the worst in the history of the NHS. So instead of stoking up Project Fear, shouldn’t he concentrate on his day job?
In a similar vein, George Osborne warns that Brexit could lead to house prices falling by 18 per cent. But if property values do plummet, won’t it be because of the Chancellor’s increases in stamp duty and crackdown on buy- to- let mortgages rather than anything to do with Brussels?
Austria, the presidential election was too close to call last night, with the far-Right and Green candidates standing neck and neck. Whoever wins, it is a humiliating rejection of the mainstream parties, who are being punished for failing to get to grips with mass migration. It is an ominous warning. When people are disenfranchised, extremism flourishes.