Comments on: Elections in Austria: Yuck http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/ European Opinion Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:55:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: adaniel http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22341 adaniel Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:46:48 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22341 I think Austrian parties are so well rooted in society that FPÖ and BZÖ are very hard to characterize. Austria has the highest rate of partisan involvement of citizens, and many FPÖ members are still pro-business liberals or the people Haider brought in, etc. In fact, there is very little change in Austrian politics, the same people have been around in FPÖ, the Greens and the other smaller parties. These parties have been in opposition, in regional government, except for the Greens in national government, but Austria remained very much the same. Although there may be a real political crisis, it is very difficult to see what is wrong all in all with this peaceful and super rich country. I think Austrian parties are so well rooted in society that FPÖ and BZÖ are very hard to characterize. Austria has the highest rate of partisan involvement of citizens, and many FPÖ members are still pro-business liberals or the people Haider brought in, etc. In fact, there is very little change in Austrian politics, the same people have been around in FPÖ, the Greens and the other smaller parties. These parties have been in opposition, in regional government, except for the Greens in national government, but Austria remained very much the same.

Although there may be a real political crisis, it is very difficult to see what is wrong all in all with this peaceful and super rich country.

]]> By: The forgotten election: Slovenia « The 8th Circle http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22340 The forgotten election: Slovenia « The 8th Circle Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:53:07 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22340 [...] a plethora of electoral activity across Europe.  Thus, A fistful of Euros has covered elections in Austria, Belarus, and Bavaria, Germany.  The Belarus election selection was also discussed by Julien [...] [...] a plethora of electoral activity across Europe.  Thus, A fistful of Euros has covered elections in Austria, Belarus, and Bavaria, Germany.  The Belarus election selection was also discussed by Julien [...]

]]> By: Oliver http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22336 Oliver Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:23:01 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22336 The young generation of Europe is facing the double burden of paying for the old and increased international competition. The young generation of Europe is facing the double burden of paying for the old and increased international competition.

]]> By: Alex http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22334 Alex Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:25:54 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22334 What *is* the sodding EU issue in Austria, anyway? "Please, save us from this national nightmare of peace and prosperity!" What *is* the sodding EU issue in Austria, anyway? “Please, save us from this national nightmare of peace and prosperity!”

]]> By: Scott http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22333 Scott Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:17:01 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22333 This Falter article offers some insight--the FPO did extremely well among under 30s. http://www.falter.at/web/print/detail.php?id=781 It will be interesting to see if other European parties can imitate their success. Obviously the EU issue is what got the nationalists so much traction--obviously Austria is special in this regard but I wonder if we'll see more protectionist/nationalist sympathies as the economy implodes. It looks like a red-black coalition--the FPO may actually prefer this as the last time they got into the federal government their performance at the polls went down. I was hopeful for Austrian left parties after the near red-green success in 2006--but it seems like the nationalists have a very strong base of support, which they obviously brought out on Sunday. The SPD and the Greens will have to step up their game especially among the youth. This Falter article offers some insight–the FPO did extremely well among under 30s.

http://www.falter.at/web/print/detail.php?id=781

It will be interesting to see if other European parties can imitate their success. Obviously the EU issue is what got the nationalists so much traction–obviously Austria is special in this regard but I wonder if we’ll see more protectionist/nationalist sympathies as the economy implodes.

It looks like a red-black coalition–the FPO may actually prefer this as the last time they got into the federal government their performance at the polls went down.

I was hopeful for Austrian left parties after the near red-green success in 2006–but it seems like the nationalists have a very strong base of support, which they obviously brought out on Sunday. The SPD and the Greens will have to step up their game especially among the youth.

]]> By: » Sophisticated Superior Civilisation Watc … Talk Islam http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22312 » Sophisticated Superior Civilisation Watc … Talk Islam Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:32:23 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22312 [...] Sophisticated Superior Civilisation Watch: Austrians vote for “two creepy nationalist-populist-nativist-immigrant hating parties”. [...] [...] Sophisticated Superior Civilisation Watch: Austrians vote for “two creepy nationalist-populist-nativist-immigrant hating parties”. [...]

]]> By: Douglas Muir http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22301 Douglas Muir Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:25:35 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22301 Yeah. As I said, though, once you get into it you have to start talking about Haider, and I'm just not in the mood. One other detail: this was the first national election in Europe that allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote. No data on how they voted yet, though. Doug M. Yeah. As I said, though, once you get into it you have to start talking about Haider, and I’m just not in the mood.

One other detail: this was the first national election in Europe that allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote. No data on how they voted yet, though.

Doug M.

]]> By: Alex http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/elections-in-austria-yuck/#comment-22299 Alex Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:18:25 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3636#comment-22299 It's worth pointing out that the (Strache) FPO and the (Haider) BZO are still in some ways the same entity. Haider built the BZO, which doesn't really have any members, on the Carinthian regional FPO which is a judicially separate entity from the national FPO but still a member of it, largely in order to avoid paying the party's campaign debts. It’s worth pointing out that the (Strache) FPO and the (Haider) BZO are still in some ways the same entity. Haider built the BZO, which doesn’t really have any members, on the Carinthian regional FPO which is a judicially separate entity from the national FPO but still a member of it, largely in order to avoid paying the party’s campaign debts.

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