The head of Austria’s strongest right-wing party is in hot water following a controversial remark.
Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Heinz-Christian Strache said in a private conversation during last Friday’s Viennese Corporations Ball that he felt what happened to some people as they arrived to attend the event reminded him of the Nazis’ persecution of Europe’s Jewish community.
Three ball guests, five police officers and one protester were slightly injured during altercations outside Hofburg Palace. Viennese police decided to assign hundreds of anti-riot officers to protect people attending the event – which will not take place at Hofburg Palace from next year due to its far-right background.
Opponents label the ball as a get-together of right-wing extremists and fascist student fraternities from all across Europe. Left-wing movements in Germany and other countries organised coach trips to the Austrian capital to take to the streets against it.
The Jewish Community in Vienna (IKG), Austria’s Green Party, labour unions, civil rights committees and students attended a peaceful gathering near Hofburg Palace to express their criticism and commemorate the millions of Jews which were killed by the Nazis before and in World War Two (WWII).
The different organisations which staged street protests against the disputed ball pointed out that it took place on the official Auschwitz concentration camp commemoration day. Organisers of the Viennese Corporations Ball claimed this was a coincidence. They also denied holding a party for right-wing extremists, arguing that it was impossible to check the political background and opinion of all guests for extremist views.
Strache – who held a speech at the ball – was quoted as saying by a journalist that he felt reminded by the physical attacks of demonstrators at people trying to get into Hofburg Palace of what happened to Jews of Germany and Austria in the Night of Broken Glass (Reichskristallnacht) when Nazi troops and citizens smashed shop windows and set synagogues on fire in several cities. Thousands of people were arrested and dozens killed on 9 November 1938.
Strache admitted yesterday (Tues) having made such a remark but claimed that it was taken out of context. He underlined that he said so during a personal chat with the head of the FPÖ academy. FPÖ General Secretary Harald Vilimsky said on Monday that the reporter “used Stasi methods” to eavesdrop on the head of Austria’s strongest opposition party.
Strache said he made the controversial comment after being informed that dozens of women were spat at and physically attacked by protesters outside Hofburg Palace. The right-winger – who travelled to Israel to meet with nationalists in December 2010 – is also accused of saying that “we are the new Jews”. The IKG plans to take him to court for the remark.
Strache did not comment on the allegations for some days before accepting the invitation for a television interview yesterday evening. The FPÖ chief told broadcasting company ORF he was “disgusted about how media deliberately turn things around” he allegedly said.
People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger said offering an apology was the least Strache should do. An OGM poll showed last week that the FPÖ – which came third behind the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the ÖVP in the general ballot of 2008 – would claim 28 per cent in elections at the moment. The SPÖ has the same potential, according to OGM. The agency sees the ÖVP at only 23 per cent, followed by the Greens (14 per cent).
