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Austria and EU: Sanctions against Haider

© Peter Weber

After four months of party haggling Austria has finally a new government: a coalition of the Freedom Party FPÖ led by the xenophobic populist Jörg Haider and the Christian Democrat ÖVP under the new chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP). The inclusion of Haider's far-right Freedom Party has led to Austria's international isolation. Alarmed by the violation of an unwritten taboo the EU's prime ministers have downgraded relations with Vienna and many ministers from other European countries refuse to meet with their Austrian counterparts. Austria's Federal president Thomas Klestil and chancellor Schüssel have tried to tranquilize the Community, but the triumphant FPÖ-leader Haider has made things even worse by pronouncing several offensive statements against the partner countries. Yet his popularity at home has even risen. The European Union is now in trouble, trying to handle its sanctions against Austria in a rational manner and without making a hero of the Austrian outlaw. On 29th February Haider has stepped down as FPÖ-chairman, but many fear that Austria's most popular leader is only preparing himself for the chancellor's office.

An intriguing performance

In the general elections of 3rd October 1999 Wolfgang Schüssel's Popular Austrian Party ÖVP had turned out only third, behind the Social Democrats of chancellor Viktor Klima (SPÖ) and the National-Liberals of Jörg Haider's FPÖ. To the great disappointment of the ambitious Christian Democrat leader this result seemed to preclude any possibility to achieve the post of chancellor. It was only by playing an intriguing part during the coalition talks that Mr. Schüssel turned his party's disappointing result into a personal success. During the election campaign Mr. Schüssel had ruled out a mere continuation of the former Grand coalition with the Social Democrats. He didn´t want to serve anymore as a junior partner. His alternative was a coalition with the Freedom Party, but his hopes to get them as a junior partner were crushed when his own party turned out only third behind the FPÖ.

Thus, willing or not, the Christian Democrat leader was forced into negotiations with the Social Democrats. The outgoing chancellor Viktor Klima (SPÖ) tried for three months to convince his hitherto foreign minister Schüssel to renew the former coalition. In January things seemed finally ready, when the partners started to talk about the distribution of ministries. Compelled by the Christian Democrats, the Social Democrats had already renounced many requests of their platform, but when Schüssel wanted to discuss even their ministers, trying to exclude some of the most popular, Klima's party dedided to interrupt the talks. After 13 years the Grand coalition in Austria was definitely broken. Viktor Klima renounced any further attempt to form a government and a few days later he stepped down even as leader of his party.

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