Why the FPÖ shouldn't be in government

Not only from Volt's point of view, to which the FPÖ is the antithesis. The parties that will enter the National Council - and here we are looking in particular at the ÖVP - should also not help the FPÖ to power. The FPÖ stands for a policy that would harm Austria and isolate it internationally. Here we present four central arguments why the FPÖ should not be part of a government.

1. Anti-European stance and the attack on a united Europe

The FPÖ firmly rejects the European idea of an ever closer union of states. The vision of a united Europe, which is anchored in the foundations of the European Union as an “ever closer union”, is negated by the FPÖ. Instead, the party propagates a “Europe of fatherlands”, a nation-state isolation that would divide the continent into camps. All this with the promise of a “good old days before joining the EU”. A time that never existed. But in times of multiple crises, these narratives catch on. Narratives that can be used to avoid the problems and crises that are relevant today.

You don't have to be a supporter of the idea of a European republic, as we at Volt are. This form of nationalism, which the FPÖ (and, incidentally, its friends in other European countries, such as the AfD in Germany) is promoting, jeopardizes the cohesion of Europe and threatens the peace that the EU has guaranteed for decades. Nationalism is not just an ideology of the past, but a real threat - as shown by the recent, tragic history between the countries of the former Soviet Union - especially Ukraine, but also Georgia and Chechnya. These countries were once in a union, they were a common country. Of course, this is not comparable to the current constitution of the EU, which is based on voluntary participation. But there was still a common market (albeit one with a socialist plan). There was a common currency, a common administration, common transport links, energy supply, defense, etc. There were marriages, there were family ties between the individual republics of the Soviet Union at the time. A few years after these ties were broken (understandably in this case, of course), nationalism quickly gained strength, especially in Russia. One party and one man promised to “make Russia great again”, a return to the good old days. After around 30 years, all this led to the biggest armed conflict on the European continent since the Second World War.

The conflicts between formerly closely intertwined states and societies, as can be seen between Russia and Ukraine, make it clear that nationalism in Europe can once again lead to war. A strengthening of nationalist forces such as the FPÖ could deepen the division of Europe and promote instability instead of strengthening the urgently needed cooperation.

Our lead candidate Ina Dimitrieva also commented on this:

With a person like Kickl in the European Council, Europe will get a second Orbàn who, together with the far-right forces in the European Parliament, will prevent important progress in our Union, such as a comprehensive reform of the EU towards a deepening of social and economic interdependencies between states. The weaknesses of the EU system are only being exploited by him, for example: the right of veto is being used by the FPÖ in a similar way to Fidesz for its own political interests and assertion of power.

2. Dangerous proximity to Russia and risk of international isolation

To stay in Russia: The FPÖ cultivates a conspicuous closeness to Russia and the Kremlin. We remember with a shudder Ms. Kneissl's curtsey to Vladimir Putin. This woman was the former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Austria and she owed this post to her party, the FPÖ. Then there are the conspicuous connections of former employees of the BVT (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism), a ministry that Herbert Kickl once headed as minister when he was not sitting on his horse and/or taking or recommending their deworming medicine. And last but not least, we remember various friendship agreements with the “United Russia” party with its well-known chairman as well as the compliant willingness to lay the oh-so-beloved homeland at the feet of a (supposed) Russian oligarch while drunk on vodka and Red Bull in Ibiza.

The FPÖ's stance on Russia is not only problematic, but also poses a potential security threat. There are already serious warnings from abroad: those responsible in security-related committees of the German Bundestag have indicated that they are considering no longer sharing security-related information with Austria should the FPÖ assume government responsibility. This is based on the FPÖ's close ties to Russia and fears that sensitive information could be passed on to the Kremlin.

In the past, the FPÖ has made it clear through its closeness to Putin and its Russia-friendly policies that the European Union means nothing to it. The “strong Russia” under Putin is a role model for them, which not only makes Austria untrustworthy in the eyes of its European partners, but also weakens European cooperation. A government including the FPÖ would isolate Austria internationally and permanently damage its reputation.

3. Climate change denial and blocking future-oriented policies

Not long ago, Lower Austria experienced what it means not to take climate change seriously. After the Mediterranean warmed to unprecedented heights in a summer of unbroken heat records, a weather situation developed that caused four to five times the normal September precipitation to fall in two to three days. Central Europe was submerged in floods and, of course, neither rivers nor clouds stop at any borders. Livelihoods were destroyed, and in some cases this catastrophe cost human lives. Meanwhile, MEP Harald Vilimsky is enjoying himself at a charity gala organized by the Heartland Institute. This is a really bad think tank, to which we owe campaigns against smoking bans and not least agitation, fundraising and campaigning against measures to save the climate and thus the basis of life for us all. The fact that the who's who of fossil fuel industry corporations are meeting at this gala is, of course, methodical. The FPÖ is the defender of the vested interests of these groups. Of course, they don't want people to look up one floor and discover who is making what soup for whom. It is better for those attending the Heartland Institute's charity gala to look in a different direction - downwards. Towards the socially disadvantaged, the migrants, the weaker members of society. And the FPÖ is naturally a master of this game.

One of the most urgent global challenges of our time, climate change, is therefore categorically denied by the FPÖ for tactical reasons. Presumably, many of those at the levers of this party do not even believe in the blatant nonsense that sometimes comes from this direction (climate change caused by solar flares, by shifting the earth's axis, etc. etc.). Under the slogan “climate protection with common sense”, the party is pursuing a backward-looking and dangerous policy that basically says: “Nothing needs to be done, climate change is not man-made.” This is in clear contradiction to scientific findings and the efforts of the international community to combat climate change.

Austria needs a government that takes forward-looking and courageous measures against the climate crisis instead of denying it. However, an FPÖ-led government would block the much-needed progress on climate protection and isolate Austria while other countries are gearing their economies towards sustainable growth and renewable energy. Austria would fall behind - economically, politically and ecologically.

4. Populism and incitement against “the immigrant”

The FPÖ has built up its voter base primarily through the targeted exploitation of fears, insecurities and dissatisfaction. There is no doubt that we are living in a time of multiple crises. Financial crisis, climate crisis, the corona pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. Social and demographic upheavals are also taking place. All of this can understandably lead to excessive demands. In times like these, the FPÖ exploits these fears and directs them against “the foreigner” as a scapegoat, even though this neither addresses the actual causes of inequality (e.g. the current distribution of wealth and tax legislation) nor could it solve any of the above problems. But in a world in which even elementary education is being increasingly economized (learning what will get people into the job market the quickest), such simple solutions are of course not effective. This form of populism divides society instead of offering solutions to real problems such as social inequality and economic insecurity. And it calls for ever more humiliation and disenfranchisement of marginalized groups in order to appease the majority society.

We all know from history where the path of hatred, exclusion and the undermining of basic human rights leads. In any case, a government that focuses on division rather than cohesion will only tear the country further apart.

Conclusion: Austria must not repeat mistakes of the past

The FPÖ may have become the strongest party, but the other parties should by no means pave the way for it to take on government responsibility. Its anti-European stance, dangerous proximity to Russia, denial of climate change and targeted agitation against “the foreigner” make it a party that would isolate and weaken Austria - politically, economically and morally.

Austria's future does not lie in nationalist fortresses, but in an open, united Europe, in our view ideally in a European republic. Parties that adhere to this vision should speak out against cooperation with the FPÖ - for the good of the country and its citizens.

In an open letter, we therefore call on all democratic forces in Austria to work together and form a stable government that is committed to the principles of the rule of law, human rights and European integration.