ONE IN four Austrian voters supports the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), a new poll has revealed, the level of support that helped the party into office a decade ago.
Boosted by a strong result in recent Viennese city elections, the FPÖ is reportedly working on plans to expand into Germany, as party head Heinz-Christian Strache finally steps out of the shadow of his predecessor and mentor, the late Jörg Haider.
The poll for Der Standard newspaper gave the FPÖ the same 25 per cent support as the conservative ÖVP, its one-time coalition partner.
Meanwhile, the ruling Social Democrats (SPÖ), now senior coalition partner with the ÖVP, has 28 per cent.
“What we mustn’t forget is that the FPÖ is usually under-represented in polls, as some people don’t want to reveal their support for the party,” said Alexandra Schmid-Förderl, editor of Der Standard.
The FPÖ has been boosted by inner-coalition wrangling and public uproar over spending cuts, conflict she predicts has sapped the government of the will to tackle urgent structural reform, particularly in the state pension system.
Two-thirds of Austrians say they expect to be hit by the austerity measures, which include savings in child allowance and old-age care, according to the Standard poll; another poll found the same percentage view the cuts as being unfair.
“Between the cuts and the government parties attacking each other, it’s very easy for people to go over to the FPÖ,” said Vienna-born Peter Eigner in a coffee house this week.
With his line in populist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, FPÖ leader Christian Strache is working towards closer co-operation with a new extreme-right politician in Germany.
Last week Austrian FPÖ officials announced a political co-operation in the 2014 European elections during a visit to the offices of Pro NRW, an extreme-right party based in Cologne which is represented in the city council.
“The FPÖ is very welcome and the Pro-movement will give strong support to the FPÖ here in Germany,” said Judith Wolter, head of the Pro-Köln section of the party.
The Pro grassroots political movement in Germany that has attracted support and attention in local western German elections for its anti-immigrant programme, in particular protests against the construction of mosques.
Mr Strache is expected in Cologne next May for a “Pro Freedom” march and Pro NRW says the two parties will join forces for a “pan-European referendum against Turkey’s EU accession”.