AUSTRIA: RIGHTWING LEADER BASHES OPPONENTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS

UNCLAS VIENNA 000053

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: RIGHTWING LEADER BASHES OPPONENTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS
IN NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS

REF: VIENNA 27


1. (U) Heinz-Christian Strache, head of Austria's rightwing Freedom
Party (FPO),blasted the ruling Social Democrats (SPO) and People's
Party (OVP) while calling for the deportation of lawbreaking asylum
seekers during a January 10 rally launching the party's campaign for
the citywide elections in October.


2. (U) Like a pop star, Strache burst onto the stage through a paper
wall to the strains of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" blaring from the
loudspeakers. The crowd of about 2,500 included people of various
ages and socio-economic backgrounds. However, there were more
teenagers and 20-somethings than we have seen at most events held by
the other parties (the voting age in Austria is 16). Many of the
young people were members of various party-affiliated youth and
student organizations, reflecting the party's success with Austrian
youth. There was also a large amount of beer being consumed,
noteworthy given that the event took place on a Sunday at 9 a.m.


3. (U) Strache, the most youthful and telegenic of Austria's
politicians, delivered a speech that was rousing at first, but began
to drag as it continued for over 90 minutes. The FPO leader made
bold predictions for the coming year, promising gains in the
provincial elections in Styria and Burgenland, as well as Vienna.
He depicted the Vienna election as a head-to-head contest between
him and incumbent Mayor Haupl, whom, he said, had "failed in
everything he has attempted." He called the long-dominant SPO
organization in Vienna "a bunch of dinosaurs" ripe for defeat. The
FPO leader was more restrained in his comments regarding the April
25 presidential election, promising only to nominate a candidate to
run against heavily favored SPO incumbent Heinz Fischer. None of
the major parties has so far named a candidate to compete against
Fischer.


4. (U) Though the content of the speech was standard FPO material,
the audience was nonetheless enthusiastic and sometimes raucous.
Flag waving and overt displays of patriotism are generally frowned
on in Austria, but FPO events are an exception. The convention hall
was strewn with Austrian flags and symbols. Immediately following
Strache's speech, supporters sang the national anthem followed by a
chant of "Austria, Austria, Austria."

Comment: Restrained, but Not Reformed
--------------


5. (SBU) While Strache took shots at all the familiar FPO targets,
including foreigners and Muslims, his language was more restrained
than in past speeches. We have noticed that the FPO's new campaign
posters are also more subtle - slogans like "The West in Christian
Hands," and "End Islamization" have been replaced with calls for
"immigration reform." An FPO contact told us party leaders are
confident that the FPO's recent success indicates that their message
has gotten across, and they no longer need to use harsh rhetoric to
get attention.


5. (SBU) Strache is not likely to be elected mayor of Vienna - even
FPO contacts acknowledge that they expect Haupl to place first. But
the FPO may finish a strong second and deprive the SPO of its
absolute majority in the province, bolstering its image as a party
on the rise.

Eacho