Far Right wins Austrian election

[candlewhickgreen]

The far right won the most votes in an Austrian election for the first time since the Nazi era on Sunday, as the Freedom party (FPÖ) rode a tide of public anger over migration and the cost of living to beat the centre-right People’s party (ÖVP).

The pro-Kremlin, anti-Islam FPÖ won 28.8% of votes, beating the ruling ÖVP of the chancellor, Karl Nehammer, into second place on 26.3%, according to near-complete results

Frightening times, the FPO got into the European Parliament and want to bring in a remigration minister. They campaigned on remigration for this election and are pro Putin.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/29/far-right-freedom-party-winning-austrian-election-first-results-show

Why can't we decide on whether policies on say immigration are good or bad on the basis of an objection evaluation of the effect it is having on society and the country?

Assess the impact of government strategies and judge them accordingly / not according to whatever "wing" they appear to be, but on their own merits, the proof is in the pudding,

Tbf another country I know well
has a centre left gov and strong immigration policy, it’s bipartisan by now

It seems to be a hurdle the EU is struggling with although new policy is coming in which might change things

@EasternStandard is that Denmark?

@OodlesPoodle has a point about how cultures harden in aspic once dislocated from 'home'. I recall in 1987 in Australia reading an agony aunt post from a 26 year old Italian woman of immigrant parents who wouldn't allow her out without a chaperone, as per their own 1950s rural Italian lives!

But what I have also found is that in my teens, the Pakistani girls generally wore modest western dress with a whisp of a veil; now they're covered neck to feet and in hijabs. That's possibly a numbers game; the increasing size of their communities due to immigration and high birth rates both enables this, and possibly compels them to live parallel lives.

@Lilifer Aus but Denmark may be similar I don’t know it well

Ime once policy is in place citizens won’t view it as a ‘wing’ anymore as you say. It’s bipartisan and as central to gov as dealing with water supply

I feel like in comparison the EU is buffeting up against the issue without looking at why, well many commentators are not anyway.

Although policy change happens in 2026 iirc so that could alter the landscape and remove some heat out of it. Hard to say though

They are not meaningless at all.

Right and Left are legitimate terms, used to describe political ideologies, neither one is necessarily correct.

One can still debate the issues.

How does anyone wonder?

EU countries spend unimaginable resources on integration and get nothing in return.
Absolutely not all asylumseekers have any interest in contributing to society, learning local languages - and for example handed and occupy social housing over native citizens who are pushed out of housing.
Quite a lot of immigrants are hunting an economic better forture without any rights to asylum. Wasting EU resources.
Young uneducated muslims males from safe countries seeking asylum. Not a few. Many. They change cities. Native population feel unsafe. Quite af lot of crime comitted by non EU citizens.

There are plenty of European citizens living on the bare minimum these years. The retirement age and taxes are increasing in many countries these years. Healthcare systems are bankrupt around Eurpe. Schools are cut and not functioning. Social services and police are cut and cut.
Politicians are far from the working people and the struggling people. Just cut Sky and you can afford private schools for your kids... how can people not feel let down?

Does anyone really wonder that voters are turning right wing? There will only be more countries like Austria.

I'm white British and I honestly can't relate to the comments on here about the perils of non-assimilation making the far right ascendancy inevitable. I wish people would just speak for themselves and not assume they're channelling the majority.

I've worked and socialised in all kinds of multicultural settings. Sometimes they create challenges - how to communicate where English is not someone's first language; what sensitivities someone from a minority religion or culture might have; whatever... You deal with them and find solutions. Most people are able and willing to do that.

I also don't get the underlying assumption here that there is some kind of single monolithic native British culture that all native born people share, allowing them to get along perfectly with never a shred of unpleasantness until the 'orrible immigrants come and introduce it with their foreign ways. There are plenty of white British people who can trace their family plenty of generations back, some of whose deepest cultural, social or religious attitudes I find abhorrent and want nothing to do with. So what?

Plenty of things I don't like in Christianity, just as there are in Islam. Who gives a shit - Nobody ever said you have to like everyone.

Have you read about this educated Iraqi man? I don't recognise his actions as having ever been acceptable here. Barbaric to say the least.

www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/03/man-who-sent-girl-to-iraq-for-fgm-jailed-in-legal-first-for-england-and-wales

Given the news over last couple of days with sad outcome for a two year old and nearly 1000 crossing Labour have set themselves up to fail with their policy.

The number crossing 2 years ago was higher, why wasn't that a failure.

Its very easy to be critical without actually coming out with any policies that would work in a European scenario.

We left the EU, our influence is zero and quite frankly, there is nothing we can do, short of force and anyone who says that they have a plan, is lying, Rwanda could never handle the numbers (500 in the first year) there is no nice empty island we can send them too and the smash the gangs is claptrap, the UK isn't even in europol.

The number was falling and a reverse isn’t what Labour pledged

Of course it’s easy to be critical of ‘smash the gangs’ policy it’s an absolute farce

So bizarre people bought into it pre GE

Higher fatalities and crossings will be tough for Labour against that pledge.

I did say Smash the Gangs cannot work, bit like saying we can stop the drugs supply into the UK by "smashing the drugs gangs"

Close down one, 2 more open up, yes we still need to try but it'll have little effect.

Numbers in 2023 are v similar to 2021 levels, 2022 was unusual as so many Albanians crossed over, that stopped, numbers fell, atm 2023 and 2024 numbers are similar (figures from migration watch)

My point is no one can come up with any policy that will deter, after all drowning doesn't deter, its all criticism but with no new ideas.

The only people who can prevent or limit crossings are the french.

@Trailstunning

"My point is no one can come up with any policy that will deter, after all drowning doesn't deter, it's all criticism but with no new ideas.

The only people who can prevent or limit crossings are the french."

I completely agree that the policy of "smash the people smuggling gangs" may have sounded great for Labour on the election campaign, but in reality will never work as it addresses the supply part of illegal migration rather than the demand.

Like drug dealers if you shut down one people smuggling gang then another will simply take its place.

However for the same reasons I disagree with you on the point that the only people who can prevent or limit crossings are the French as it also looks at it from the supply angle.

In my opinion the only solution is to reduce the demand or attractiveness of the UK as an illegal migration destination.

Some of the draws of the UK are the lack of compulsory ID, a widespread unregulated economy (all those car washes, nail bars, day rate construction labourers etc), that very few failed asylum seekers ever get deported, media coverage (accurate or not) of migrants being housed in hotels, free state medical provision with minimal ID required etc.

If you tackle these draws of the UK then many illegal migrants will either stay in France or go elsewhere such as Germany or Sweden.

Deterrence does work look at Aus, so that’s not correct.

The new EU Pact starts soon and I wouldn’t be surprised if Aus or Pact was up for a vote at the next GE

Five years is a long time for the numbers climbing and either could be an option.

Australia's immigration policy isn't an option for the UK or the EU, so i don't know why you keep going on about it.

Where have we a convenient island ready to permanently house 100k plus migrants? or 100s of '000s in the case of the EU?

Rwanda was a stupid policy because only 5000 migrants, over several years, were ever going to be sent there, less than 1% of all arrivals, 1000s of people have drowned in the Med, it doesn't stop people attempting the crossing.

Unless the UK is going to send ALL migrants to the Falklands or similar, then deterrent wont work.

@1dayatatime Yes we could tighten work, enforcement and ID rules but France has more illegals working as a %, in their black economy than the UK does.

I think the message seems to be in France/EU, is that the UK will put you in a Hotel, give you money and eventually you'll be allowed to stay here as there is no where else to send you.

Even if a migrant wanted to return to France, with no passport etc they could not, they'd have to be smuggled out!!!

I can talk about it if I wish. If you don’t want to scroll past.

And I doubt you’re correct anyway. It doesn’t need to be an island.

I just realised you are repeating your points anyway. Hard to keep track of that.

Well thats because you keep repeating the same old Australia deterrent stuff.

So lets park that and move on.

Where could the UK and the EU house 100s of '000s of migrants and do what with them? given that in order for it to be a deterrent, there can be no possibility of entering the UK legally & many if not most cannot be sent back to their home countries for a variety of reasons, the main one being these countries refuse to allow them back.

Its 2 fundamental questions and ones that proponents of Australia's policy cannot answer.

No thanks as per other thread I’ll leave you to engage with others

Enjoy.

Denmark is an interesting case. It's liberal and welcoming, but they absolutely prioritise integration over multiculturalism. They will provide all the free language lessons you need, but don't expect any accommodation for cultural or religious differences - e.g. if you want to go for a swim without having to get naked in front of everyone else and undergo the "shower inspection", then tough shit.

Lol Continually calls for a policy you know cannot be implemented in Europe.

Ok.

And the ‘lol’ no mistake there.

So much going on for you. Others will be along soon. Enjoy

@WhosPink ha, ha - having lived in Copenhagen we called them liberal fascists- same in Netherlands. It's very much Denmark for the Danes - I loved it but they do have some very weird unspoken 'rules' and some particularly rude old people who make no qualms about saying 'speak Danish' if you are in a supermarket queue etc -

Ironically we are off to Vienna for new year

Well, I've never been told to speak Danish I must admit, but yeah I get what you mean. I actually quite like the rules, and the fact that if you break them you will be told in no uncertain terms, unlike in the UK where you are basically left guessing as to why people are tutting at you.

@WhosPink thinking about it, the Danish form of centre left social democracy is similar to the old (pre-identity politics) UK left. You get excellent services, a proper social safety net, lower income disparity, but no-one is special and there is no cultural or moral relativism. The society only works because everyone is pulling in the same direction.