AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR DENOUNCES "ANTI-SEMITISM" IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 000603 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR DENOUNCES "ANTI-SEMITISM" IN RIGHTWING PARTY'S CAMPAIGN REF: VIENNA 362 Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Chancellor Faymann on May 18 denounced Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the rightwing, xenophobic Freedom Party (FPO) as a "hatemonger" and said the FPO was trying to stir up anti-Semitism with a campaign ad promising to veto EU membership for Israel (and Turkey). Leaders from other political parties, as well as the Jewish and Muslim communities, have also harshly criticized the FPO. Though not known as a religion-oriented party, the FPO has lately been adding Christian themes to its traditional Islam-bashing, prompting criticism from the Catholic Church and other religious communities. The controversy over the ad follows a series of unrelated events that have raised concerns about the far right. The strong reaction to the FPO in this case is unusual for GOA leaders, who are normally wary of taking on the party. End Summary. Chancellor, Others Denounce FPO -------------- ¶2. (C) Like most Austrian politicians, Faymann (Social Democratic Party) normally refrains from speaking out against the FPO's xenophobic political statements. But the Chancellor harshly criticized the rightwing party in response to an FPO newspaper campaign ad for the upcoming European Parliament elections which stated that, "The FPO will veto EU membership for Turkey and Israel." In a May 18 interview with the liberal daily Der Standard, Faymann called FPO leader Strache a "disgrace" and a "hatemonger." Noting that Israel is not an EU candidate, the Chancellor asserted that the only possible motive for raising the bogus issue of EU membership for the Jewish state was to stir up anti-Semitism. ¶3. (U) Other leaders across the political spectrum joined the criticism. FM Spindelegger, of the People's Party (OVP), warned against the use of xenophobic themes in political campaigns. Ernst Strasser, the leading OVP candidate for the European Parliament, said the FPO was "on the border of Nazism." Members of the Green Party and even the Alliance for the Future of Austria, a rightwing spinoff of the FPO, also spoke out against the FPO. Ariel Muzicant, president of the Jewish Community, averred that the language of FPO Secretary General Kickl was reminiscent of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Kickl is the primary author of the FPO's campaign slogans. Anas Shakfeh, President of the Islamic Faith Community, said the FPO's campaign tactics were reminiscent of the Nazis. Anger over the FPO campaign overshadowed the May 19 parliamentary budget debate, as MPs from all parties continued to denounce the FPO. ¶4. (U) FPO leaders deny the party is anti-Semitic or racist. Strache called Faymann "hysterical" and accused the Chancellor of waging a "hate campaign" against the FPO. Another FPO official called for Muzicant to resign over his comments about the party's Secretary General. A Newfound "Faith" -------------- ¶5. (U) Though neither the FPO nor Strache are known for religious devotion, this controversial campaign slogan is the latest in a series of moves by the party to use Christianity as a political tool. The FPO recently began deploying a campaign poster featuring the slogan "The West in Christian Hands" (like most FPO slogans, this rhymes in German), prompting a sharp rebuke from Austria's Ecumenical Council. On May 14, Strache held up a crucifix as he spoke at a demonstration against the planned expansion of a Turkish/Muslim center in Vienna. In response, a prominent Catholic cleric told a reporter that, "someone who abuses the cross in this way is also capable of walking over corpses (to achieve his goals)." President Fischer, who normally stays above the political fray, also criticized Strache for mixing religion with politics. Islam is the Traditional Target -------------- ¶6. (C) Muslims, not Jews, are the traditional target of the FPO's rhetoric. For the past two months the party has been gearing up for the Vienna elections with a campaign associating Vienna Mayor Haupl with "mosques and minarets" and asserting that Strache will protect the capital from immigration and "Islamization" (reftel). Amina Baghajati, VIENNA 00000603 002 OF 002 spokeswoman for the Islamic Faith Community, told us recently that anti-Islamic messages have long been an FPO staple, but she is alarmed at the way the rhetoric has become more extreme with each campaign. Other Rightwing Incidents -------------- ¶7. (U) The debate over the FPO's campaign slogan comes amid a series of unrelated events that have raised concerns about the far right in Austria. On May 9, five teenagers shouted Nazi slogans and fired plastic bullets at participants in a ceremony commemorating the liberation of the Ebensee camp, a satellite camp of the Mauthausen concentration camp system. A French participant was hit by plastic bullets, prompting a formal French demarche to the MFA about the incident. Also in May, the press reported that a number of Austrian high school students told anti-Semitic jokes during a class visit to Auschwitz. In February, anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic graffiti were found scribbled on the walls of Mauthausen. Faymann and other GOA leaders have called for additional anti-fascist instruction in schools. ¶8. (U) Interior Ministry statistics indicate that complaints about right-wing activities have risen from 419 in 2006 to 831 in 2008. Interior Minister Fekter has called for an investigation into the causes of the increase. The Documentation Center of Austrian Resistance Movements has cited public anxieties over immigration, the deteriorating economic situation, and the rise of rightwing activity in Germany as possible causes for the increase. Comment: Faymann is Right -------------- ¶9. (C) Faymann has it exactly right -- Strache is a disgrace and anti-Semitism is the only plausible motive for trying to scare voters with the phony prospect of Israeli EU membership. Turkish EU membership is a legitimate issue, which the FPO often uses as cover for anti-Islamic demagoguery. Israel, however, is not an EU candidate, so there is no cover for this new slogan. Faymann and other GOA leaders (with the lone exception of the Greens) have long remained silent while the FPO targeted Muslims. They know that many members of their own parties share the anxieties about Muslim immigration, and they are wary of the FPO's dominant position among young voters. But anti-Semitism is another matter, one that stirs up old ghosts that the Austrian political leadership could not ignore for both domestic and foreign policy reasons. However, Faymann's seriousness can only be assessed if he and other Austrian leaders continue to press the FPO when it tries to play anti-Islamic or anti-Semitic cards. ORDWAY