Austria Election Results Raise Concern
YNET NEWS: As extreme right-wing parties celebrate massive gains in general elections, one of questions raised is how will world respond

The world's gaze was set on Austria on Sunday, as it became clear in that country's general election, the big winners were two parties, which are considered to be extreme right-wing.

Professor Moshe Zimmerman, the head of the German Studies department at the Hebrew University, was not at all surprised. "The main reason was due to the lack of success of the national unity government. All the parties fought with each other, and the Austrian public voted for the alternative," he said.

Even though the Austrian public went with the alternative, they ignored the moderate option and decided to go to the Right.

"The voters ignored the green party, and went to the Right, and the explanation for this is no surprise. We know the power of the Austrian right wing parties: the Austrians themselves tend to swallow the successes of the right-wing parties than the green party.

"The Right expresses suspicion towards the European Union and is suspicious of both globalization and foreigners. These are things that they can sell to the voting public, and that's why they are successful," explains Zimmerman.

While the Western world may view these parties as extreme right wing, the Austrians themselves don't necessarily view them as radicals.

"In Austria, in the conditions after the collapse of the Berlin wall, the public is inclined more towards the right than the left, and they don't necessarily view it as extreme right-wing. There are more extreme elements than others, but they think that they are voting for a legitimate political party who understands the dangers of globalization and will fight the criminal elements that originate from Eastern Europe, those are the platforms they use," adds Zimmerman.

The burning question is how the international community will respond to Right wing elements gaining strength in Austria; Zimmerman adds that "this is a slap in the face for the EU. This means another country that will not happily approve the EU treaty. Jewish and anti fascist groups will protest, but a boycott like after the last elections will not happen, Heinz-Christian Strache is not Jorg Haider, he learned how to talk."

Israel might express its opinion on the matter but Zimmerman hopes that this time the reaction will be less extreme than last time, when Israel recalled it's ambassador from Vienna. Austria Election Results Raise Concern >>> Amit Levy | September 29, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Austrian Election: What Some of the Papers Have Said
THE TELEGRAPH:
Austria Election Delivers Gains for Far Right: Mr Strache has campaigned for a ban on Islamic dress which, he said, made women look like "female ninjas". He also seeks to overturn strict Austrian laws banning the display of Nazi symbols, such as the swastika.

Senior Freedom Party officials used the elections to mourn the days when immigration turned Austria's sausage stands into kebab shops and to lament the good old days when Austrians ate schnitzel instead of "falafel, couscous or whatever that stuff is called". >>> By Andreas Sam in Vienna and Bruno Waterfield | September 28, 2008

THE GUARDIAN:
Extreme Right Emerges as Strong Force in Austria: Austria was shaken by a political earthquake yesterday when the neo-fascist right emerged from a general election as a contender to be the strongest political force in the country for the first time.

The combined forces of the extreme right took 29% of the vote, with Jörg Haider almost tripling the share of his breakaway Movement for Austria's Future to 11%, while his successor as Freedom party leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, saw his party soar to 18%.

The far right's vote doubled compared with the last election in 2006, putting it within less than a point of overtaking the poll victor, the social democrats. >>> By Ian Traynor, Europe Editor | September 29, 2008

MAIL Online:
Austria Races to the Right as Nearly a Third of the Voters Back the Extremists >>> By Allan Hall | September 29, 2008

THE INDEPENDENT:
Anti-Foreigner Campaign Boosts Austrian Far-Right: Populist far-right parties made sweeping gains in Austria's closely fought general election yesterday, making their strongest showing since 2000 when the country suffered EU sanctions after a far-right party won power for the first time since the Second World War.

The Freedom Party, led by Heinz-Christian Strache, gained more than 18 per cent of the vote – nearly doubling its share of support – after running a vitriolic campaign against "foreign criminals" and "asylum cheats" and pledging to take Austria out of the EU. >>> By Tony Paterson in Berlin | September 29, 2008

GLOBE AND MAIL:
Far Right Surges in Austrian Vote: The far right surged to almost a third of the vote in Austria's parliamentary election on Sunday, complicating prospects for the biggest mainstream party, the Social Democrats, to forge a stable coalition government.

The right's record showing heralded political instability in the affluent Alpine republic since the two main centrist parties will be hard put to re-establish a broad coalition even if they resolve the feuds that killed off their last alliance.

"Terrible," political analyst Anton Pelinka said of prospects for stable government in the near future.

"The strength of the far-right parties will make formation of a coalition incredibly difficult if you don't bring either into government," he told Reuters. Social Democrats have ruled out an alliance with the right over its anti-foreigner stances. >>> Reuters | September 28, 2008

WELT ONLINE:
Rechtsruck macht Regierungsbildung kompliziert: Mit zusammen fast 30 Prozent der Stimmen haben die rechtspopulistischen Parteien FPÖ und Jörg Haiders BZÖ in Österreich enorme Gewinne verzeichnen können. Eine Regierungsbildung wird jetzt schwierig. Denn Wahlsieger SPÖ will auf keinen Fall mit den Rechten koalieren.

Nach der Wahlschlappe bei der österreichischen Parlamentswahl berät die konservative Volkspartei (ÖVP) über die Zukunft von Parteichef Wilhelm Molterer und die Koalitionsoptionen. Die Sozialdemokraten (SPÖ), die sich als stärkste Partei halten konnten, schlossen eine Minderheitsregierung nicht aus. >>> | 29. September 2008

DIE PRESSE:
Ausländische Pressestimmen: ''Haider wiederauferstanden'' >>> | 29. September 2008

THE JERUSALEM POST:
The End of Austrian-Israeli Relations?: Sunday's Austrian election could mean a break in diplomatic relations between Israel and Austria if extreme right-wing parties enter a coalition government. Heinz-Christian Strache, who leads the Freedom Party, took part in paramilitary activities with neo-Nazis in the late 1980s and has been known to use the Nazi salute.

According to polls, the Freedom Party could garner close to 20 percent of the vote. In 2000, the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the Austrian government prompted Israel to recall its ambassador to Vienna.

Then-prime minister Ehud Barak said the party's presence in the government "should outrage every inhabitant of the world."
"The Jewish people, wherever it may be, led by the State of Israel, will never allow the world to conduct business as usual in light of the events in Austria and their possible implications," Barak said at the time.

In a telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post last week, Dan Ashbel, Israel's ambassador in Vienna, said, "We are very concerned about the situation and parties who are xenophobic and base their policies on xenophobia. It is a danger and it is a very sad fact that this repeats itself." >>> By Benjamin Weinthal. Berlin | September 28, 2008

LE MONDE:
Forte progression de l'extrême droite en Autriche: Selon les premiers résultats, les deux partis d'extrême droite auraient réalisé, dimanche 28 septembre, un score historique aux élections législatives autrichiennes. Les sociaux-démocrates, bien qu'en recul, arriveraient en tête, devant les conservateurs.

Deux estimations estiment que le SPÖ (sociaux-démocrates) obtiendrait autour de 29 % des voix, en recul de près de 6 points par rapport à 2006. Les conservateurs de l'ÖVP ne récolteraient que 26 % des suffrages, en chute de 8 points. Le parti social-démocrate, l'un des plus vieux partis politiques européens, fondé en 1885, et les démocrates-chrétiens du Parti du peuple (ÖVP) enregistrent leur plus mauvais score depuis le début de la République autrichienne, en 1918. Les Verts, autour de 10% des voix, sont en léger recul par rapport aux 11,5 % récoltés il y a deux ans. >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP et Reuters | 28.09.2008

LE FIGARO:
Forte poussée de l'extrême droite en Autriche: La gauche arrive en tête des législatives tandis que les conservateurs accusent une chute de près de neuf points.

Les Autrichiens sauront-ils se façonner une coalition stable après les législatives anticipées de dimanche ? Rien n'est moins sûr. Les sociaux-démocrates (SPÖ), bien qu'en net recul, sont arrivés en tête, mais le vrai gagnant est l'extrême droite, en très forte hausse, selon les résultats officiels provisoires, annoncés dimanche soir par le ministère de l'Intérieur. >>> Stéphane Kovacs (avec AFP, Reuters) | 29.09.2008

CORRIERA DELLA SERA:
Austria, trionfo dell'estrema destra: La coalizione al governo per la prima volta sotto il 60%, mentre la Fpoe e la Bzoe di Haider totalizzano il 30% >>> | 28 settembre 2008

LA REPUBBLICA:
Parla Heinz Christian Strache, trionfatore a Vienna: "Pronto alla cancelleria
vecchi partiti, addio": VIENNA - In Austria è finita l'epoca di un sistema politico dominato da due partiti. Socialdemocratici e cristiano-popolari, grandi fino a ieri, sono stati ridimensionati e adesso devono fare i conti con noi, la vera nuova destra. Così parla alla tv Orf Heinz Christian Strache, il giovanissimo (39 anni) vincitore delle elezioni politiche di ieri in Austria, ex delfino e rivale di Joerg Haider. … >>> di Hans Buerger | 29 settembre 2008

NEW ZEALAND HERALD:
Poll Boost for Hardliners as Voters Punish Feuding Govt: PARIS - A spectacular advance by anti-immigrant, far-right groups in elections in Austria yesterday will raise questions about the country's stability and fuel concerns about the lure of the xenophobic siren song in Europe.

Two extreme right groups together picked up 29 per cent of the vote for Parliament, while two centrist parties, locked in a feud-riddled governing alliance over the past 18 months, polled their lowest scores since the end of World War II.

The Freedom Party under Heinz-Christian Strache gained 18 per cent, an increase of 7 percentage points over the last ballot in October 2006, and Joerg Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria nearly tripled its score, to 11 per cent, according to preliminary official figures.

Both targeted working class voters alienated with the establishment parties. >>> By Catherine Field | September 30, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Gains for Far Right Predicted in Austria
THE WASHINGTON POST: VIENNA, Austria -- Austrians began voting in parliamentary elections Sunday that analysts said could bolster the standing of the country's two right-wing parties.

But with possibly more than half a million citizens mailing in their ballots or dropping them off in election wards other than their own, the day may end without a clear winner. Undecided voters could also sway predictions.

The governing coalition between the conservative People's Party and the center-left Social Democrats crumbled in July after months of bickering. What followed was a summerlong election campaign involving 10 parties on a national level. Four less-known groups are on the ballot in several districts.

On the eve of Sunday's election, the two power-sharing blocs were running neck and neck for the top spot. But neither looked likely to secure an absolute majority.

Instead, experts said disgruntled voters may reach out _ largely in protest _ to the rightist Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria: groups known for their populist, anti-immigration rhetoric.

"Definitely the parties in government _ the Social Democrats and the Christian conservatives _ will lose" votes, said Peter Filzmaier, a respected Austrian political commentator, adding that both could see their worst results since 1945.

"The so-called Freedom Party, as well as the Alliance for the Future of Austria, will be a big winner," Filzmaier predicted. Gains for Far Right Predicted in Austria >>> By Veronika Oleksyn, The Associated Press | September 28, 2008

JERUSALEM POST:
High Stakes for Israel in Austrian Election: The outcome of Sunday's Austrian national elections will present a litmus test of the new government's ability to resist implementing the largest European gas deal with Iran. In 2007, the partially state-owned Austrian oil company OMV cut a preliminary €22 billion deal with the Islamic Republic to gain access to its South Par gas field. >>> By Benjamin Weinthal, Berlin | September 25, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Austria about to Turn Sharp Right?
DEUTSCHE WELLE: Fed up with government bickering and growing economic uncertainty, Austrian voters could hand the far right big gains in general elections on Sunday.

If opinion polls prove correct, the Austrian far-right may notch large gains in general elections on Sunday, Sept 28.

Austria's voters appear to be fed up with rising inflation (at 3.9 percent, a 15-year high), poor integration of the country's large immigrant population, and the inability of the current government to do much about either.

The combined poll numbers of Austria's two far right-parties, the Freedom Party and the Alliance for Austria's Future are hovering around 25 percent. That would represent the best draw for the Austrian far-right since 1999, when then-Freedom Party (and now Alliance) leader Jörg Haider stunned Europe by garnering 27 percent.

Such a tally might well leave Austria's neighbors aghast, but one pollster, Andreas Kirchhofer of IMAS, told news agency Reuters that Austrians may be casting their votes against their current leaders more than for the rightists.

"They are fed up with the left-right coalition," he said. "They want another kind of government, but they don't really know exactly what that should look like." Disenchanted Austrian Voters Could Turn to Far Right >>> |September 26, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
Strong Support for Strache and Haider in Austria: Heinz Christian Strache: “We must not allow our own sons to be insulted as ‘pigeaters' in our schools and our daughters to be exposed to the greedy stares and gropings of whole hordes of immigrants.” / “Homeland instead of Islam.” / “Vienna must not become Istanbul.” >>> | September 26, 2008

THE INDEPENDENT:
Austria Opens the Polls to 16-Year-Olds: Austria becomes the first country in the European Union to grant its 16-year-olds the right to vote in a general election this weekend but the move has provoked widespread controversy and criticism, even from the teenagers heading for the ballot box for the first time. >>> By Tony Paterson in Berlin | September 26, 2008

EURO NEWS:
Östereichs zwei rechte Parteien rechnen mit reichlich Zulauf: Vor der österreichischen Parlamentswahl am Sonntag dürfte bei den vielen Unbekannten nur eines sicher sein: Die beiden Parteien am rechten Rand können mit reichlich Zulauf rechnen. Schließlich wird dieser Urnengang zwei Jahre vorfristig nötig, weil die große Koalition aus ÖVP und SPÖ kläglich gescheitert ist. Gelegentliche Anmerkungen von Volkes Hand wie hier “ Nazis raus” auf ein FPÖ-Plakat geschrieben, kann man eher als Ausdruck von Hilflosigkeit werten. >>> 25. September 2008

Heinz Christian Strache: Website und Bio

Dr. Jörg Haider: Website und Lebenslauf

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Obama Damaged by Link to Incendiary Preacher
TIMESONLINE: New polls released today suggest that Barack Obama has been damaged significantly by the controversy over his pastor's inflammatory remarks and that the the issue has become a serious threat to his presidential ambitions.

A new national Gallup tracking poll indicates Hillary Clinton regaining her lead over Mr Obama for the first time in a month, now leading him 49 per cent to 42, a 13 point shift to the former First Lady in less than a fortnight.

Mrs Clinton now also holds a 16-point lead over Mr Obama in Pennsylvania, their next contest on April 22, according to a poll for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In addition, Mr Obama has lost his once commanding lead among independent voters to John McCain, the Republican nominee, in a new CBS poll.

Mrs Clinton leads Mr Obama in the Keystone State by 51 per cent to 35. Mr McCain is backed by 46 per cent of independents, to 38 per cent for Mr Obama. The Gallup and Pennsylvania polls were taken at the height of the controversy, but before Mr Obama made a major speech on the issue on Tuesday.

Despite widespread praise for Mr Obama's speech, in which he used the controversy to challenge America to move beyond its current racial tensions, aides to Mrs Clinton now believe that the incendiary comments of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright offer her perhaps her best chance of winning the Democratic nomination. Polls show Barack Obama damaged by link to Reverend Jeremiah Wright >>> By Tim Reid, of The Times, Washington

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)

Election Disaster for John Howard in Australia
BBC: The Labor Party has claimed victory in Australia's election, after early vote counts suggested Prime Minister John Howard had lost his parliamentary seat.

"On the numbers we are seeing tonight Labor is going to form a government," said Labor deputy leader Julia Gillard.

She was one of several Labor figures to claim victory, although leader Kevin Rudd has yet to make a statement.

Mr Howard was bidding for a fifth term in office, but tallies indicated his Sydney seat had been lost to Labor. Labor claims Australia poll win (more)

Mark Alexander

Immigration Key Issue in Danish Election
BBC: Immigration has become the central battleground in the Danish parliamentary election, which takes place on Tuesday.

Denmark's relations with the Muslim world reached crisis point in 2005 over a Danish newspaper's publication of Prophet Muhammad cartoons.

The leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, proposes to relax restrictions on asylum seekers.

The centre-right Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, warns that such a move could turn Denmark into "a magnet for refugees".

Strict immigration policies have been at the heart of his government's programme since 2001.

Mrs Thorning-Schmidt, daughter-in-law of former British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, wants to give a group of some 500 Iraqi failed asylum seekers permission to live and work outside their refugee camps until Iraq becomes safe enough for them to return. She says Denmark has a special responsibility to help the Iraqis because of Denmark's role in the Iraq conflict.

Although most Danes want to ease restrictions on asylum seekers, Mrs Thorning-Schmidt still looks unlikely to win.

Her party, like Mr Fogh Rasmussen's, would need the support of the centre-right New Alliance Party to form a government - but it is thought to be leaning towards the incumbent prime minister. Danes in poll tussle over migrants (more) By Thomas Buch-Andersen

Mark Alexander

The BBC Leads the Way in Covering the Swiss Election Victory for Christoph Blocher in the UK
BBC: The right-wing Swiss People's Party has won the most votes recorded in a Swiss general election, despite a campaign marred by accusations of racism.

The SVP, already the country's largest party, won 29% of the vote and gained seven seats on the National Council.

"We have reached the highest score ever since this electoral system began," said party leader Ueli Maurer.

The left-of-centre Social Democrats were the biggest losers of Sunday's polls, losing nine seats. Record poll win for Swiss right (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Swiss right wing in poll win

Mark Alexander

Kaczynski Twins Lose Election in Poland
THE TELEGRAPH: Poland's centre-right opposition party Civic Platform has scored a crushing victory in the country's general election, ending the turbulent two-year reign of Poland's Kaczynski twins.

With 73.7 per cent of ballots counted, Civic Platform was on track for a landslide win after claiming 41.2 per cent of the vote.

That would give Civic Platform 205 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, and allow them to form a solid coalition government with junior allies, the Polish Peasants Party.

The Prime Minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, whose Law and Justice Party trails with 32.2 per cent, has conceded defeat.

Civic Platform's leader Donald Tusk seems certain to become Poland's new prime minister, replacing Mr Kaczynski.

"We have failed," Mr Kaczynski said. Opposition prevails in Polish election (more) By Harry de Quetteville in Warsaw

Mark Alexander

’We Must Tell Muslims We Are a Christian Nation’
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke to right-wing Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher about his controversial Swiss People's Party, its allegedly xenophobic electoral campaign and the possible Swiss referendum on building minarets.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr Blocher, the entire election campaign (more...) has revolved around you. Everyone is only talking about you -- your supporters and your opponents alike. Swiss politics has never been focused on one person to such an extreme degree.

Christoph Blocher: I do not think that the fact I am taking center stage to such an extent in these elections is a good thing either, but my opponents are responsible for that. They have now been massively attacking my person for four years -- because of my policies. ’We Must Tell Muslims We Are a Christian Nation (more) (Interview with Swiss Justice Minister, Christoph Blocher)

THE GUARDIAN:
Swiss watch

BBC:
Swiss voting for new parliament

DIE WELT:
Erste Hochrechnungen: Rechte SVP gewinnt Schweizer Wahlen

LE FIGARO:
Suisse : la droite populiste sort renforcée des elections

LE MONDE:
La droite populiste conforte son leadership en Suisse

Mark Alexander

Politics Gets Hot in Switzerland Ahead of Next Week’s Election as Demographic Changes Cause Angst
THE GUARDIAN: Christoph Blocher's party is the largest in Switzerland but its noisy broadsides against immigrants and crime have caused deep divisions ahead of next week's elections. Peter Beaumont reports from Bern

'It's not like we're England,' said the old woman sharing a flask of coffee with her middle-aged daughter on the train from Geneva to Zurich. 'They had the colonies, and we didn't,' she adds, to explain the nature of Britain's racial mix and why Switzerland does not need one. Her daughter considers this for a moment. 'I worry,' she says, 'there will be a putsch against him.'

The him in question is Christoph Blocher, the populist and right-wing leader of the Swiss People's party (the UDC): lawyer, industrialist, admirer of Winston Churchill, collector of mawkish Swiss art and, if his opponents and critics are to be believed, a man with leanings towards the fascist fringe of the right.

And a week today, if Swiss pollster GfS has done its work correctly, the Swiss electorate will return his party again as the largest, with 27 per cent of the vote.

Blocher is the man that one newspaper columnist for 24 Heures - with some irony - dubbed last week the 'Lider Maximo' after Fidel Castro, and whom a cabinet colleague once labelled Il Duce. Everywhere Blocher goes, he polarises Swiss society. His posters appear to have been the only ones vandalised during the campaign. In Bern, where anti-Blocher marchers caused a riot last weekend by stopping the UDC marching through the city, his face has been scrawled out or covered with a drawing showing a black sheep urinating into his grinning mouth. Hard right's hero shakes up cosy world of Swiss politics (more)

Audio: Mathias Muller, an official from the Swiss People's Party (the UDC) talks to Peter Beaumont about accusations of a swing to the right

Mark Alexander

Indecision Comes as Standard
THE GUARDIAN – Leader: Would it have been so very difficult for Gordon Brown to have spoken plainly yesterday when asked why Britain will not be going to the polls in November, as he had wanted? There was no requirement for an election and there should have been little shame in calling one off, were it not for the fact that he left the decision at least a fortnight too late and went about announcing it through whispers and half-truths and then an evasive and prerecorded interview. He could have announced his decision under live, open questioning at his press conference this morning.

Like a child squirming after being caught out at last over some transgression, the prime minister offered every excuse apart from the obvious truth: that he had wanted and planned for an election and the mandate that would follow it, but that the outcome became uncertain, the late autumn timing unfortunate and the opposition artificially boosted by promises of tax cuts that he had not expected. If he had said this - rather than blustering on about his vision and a spurious duty to consider an election because people had called for it - he might have emerged a less diminished figure. David Cameron had a point yesterday when he said that the public are not fools and see through pretence.

How did a man whose strength lay in his powers as a political strategist allow himself to become trapped in such an obvious way? His advisers are already blaming each other and none now claim to have really wanted a contest. But someone did, because the election had become not just a possibility but something approaching a likelihood - until the Conservative party conference. Government business was adjusted to suit the campaign timetable, with the consequence that announcements on Iraq and public spending will crash into each other when parliament returns and others, on Crossrail and the NHS, were not made to parliament at all. All this serves to damage Mr Brown's claim to be a straight-dealing leader for a country exhausted by political deceit. This was seen as his greatest strength, until now. He’s mortal after all (more)

THE DAILY MAIL:
After the election that never was, Brown faces the music By Benedict Brogan and Jane Merrick

Mark Alexander