Austria's Pauline Hanson
Comment by Margaret Allum
Despite enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world, 27% of Austrians voted for Jorg Haider's far-right Freedom Party in October. On February 4, eight members of the Freedom Party were sworn in as members of the 16-member cabinet in the right-wing coalition government led by the conservative People's Party Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel (see article on page 22).
Haider's party exploited fears of a drop in the standard of living that an influx of refugees and immigrants, especially from eastern Europe, would supposedly cause. Posturing as the alternative to the corruption and cronyism of the major parties, Haider also fanned fears of a "loss of Austrian identity" as it moves further into the European Union.
While Haider has apologised for a multitude of pro-Nazi and racist statements he has made during his political career, his party continues to be openly anti-immigrant and scapegoat "foreigners" for unemployment and other social ills.
Reaction to the new coalition government was swift, with mass demonstrations in Austria and throughout Europe. Many European Union countries have threatened diplomatic sanctions.
It is important to note, however, that the racist, anti-immigrant "fortress Europe" is being created by the very same "respectable", European parties, conservative and social democratic, which are condemning the Freedom Party's entry into the halls of power in Vienna.
EU member countries are implementing racist immigration and asylum laws. While the borders within the EU are being relaxed, the walls are becoming higher and more impenetrable between the EU and elsewhere — especially the Third World. EU foreign ministers met in Finland in October to develop a common policy on asylum seekers and to exert pressure on EU countries with borders considered "too porous".
As in Australia, as illustrated by the recent passing of the Border Protection Act, the tightening of racist immigration and refugee laws in Europe is not being implemented by the far-right, but by mainstream conservative and social democratic parties.
Such "respectable" governments take advantage of the racist climate whipped up outspoken racists like Haider, France's Jean-Marie Le Pen and Australia's own Pauline Hanson to pass laws to curb immigration and restrict the right of asylum. Like the Hanson-Howard racist tag team, around the world it is the far right that makes the most noise, while the capitalist parties implement the policies.
US secretary of state Madeleine Albright has also announced that contacts with Vienna will be limited. This is a bit rich from a government that would rather see people drown on rafts than allow normal immigration between the US and Cuba.
Such hypocrisy does not negate the need for people to protest against the far right's "solutions" to social problems in Europe and elsewhere. The demonstrations in Austria and other parts of the world against Haider are a healthy rejection of the scapegoating of migrants. Such protests need to be supported and encouraged.
But while it is important for people to speak out against the racism and bigotry of the Hansons and Haiders of the world, the most crucial task is to oppose the implementation of Haider and Hanson's racist policies by the governments of Australia, Europe and the US.