06. 02. 12. - 15:45

Vranitzky attacks FPÖ over 'pogrom atmosphere' claim

Former Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Franz Vranitzky has lashed out at a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for claiming that the atmosphere outside a recent ball in Vienna bore resemblances to the Nazis’ pogroms.

Three guests if the Viennese Corporations Ball, which took place at Hofburg Palace in Vienna’s Innere Stadt district earlier this month, were injured by protesters. The violent incidents followed a peaceful demonstration against xenophobia, racism and fascism. People from all over Europe participated in the gathering held close to Hofburg Palace where the ball – widely seen as a get-together of the continent’s far-right – took place.

Marine Le Pen, the chairwoman of France’s Front National (FN) party, attended this year’s edition of the ball. Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and other icons of Europe’s far-right were among guests in the past. Reflecting the physical attacks of some opponents of the ball, Freedom Party (FPÖ) MEP Franz Obermayr said last week: "There was a pogrom atmosphere in Vienna."

Now Vranitzky said the statement was proof of a "lack of historical knowledge or historical impertinence." Vranitzky, who resigned after 11 years as chancellor in 1997, told newspaper Die Presse on Saturday that he "feels confirmed" in his strict anti-FPÖ strategy by the quote and other recent statements by FPÖ members. "I assume many other people are now feeling this way too," he added.

Vranitzky was against a partnership between his party and the FPÖ ever since late FPÖ leader and Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) founder Jörg Haider became head of the FPÖ in a putsch at a federal party summit in 1986. SPÖ and FPÖ cooperated in a federal government coalition before Haider rose to power.

Some SPÖ officials suggested to check the potential for partnerships with the FPÖ over the years while other representatives of the left-wing party ruled out such an option – despite or because similar voter groups. Speaking to Die Presse, SPÖ General Secretary Günther Kräuter said his party invited former FPÖ supporters who disagreed with the right-wing extremist tendencies of some top-tier members to support it in future elections.

Vranitzky said he appreciated his party’s strict no to a possible coalition with the FPÖ. SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann recently said he would not budge an inch in this regard. The SPÖ leader’s statement followed a string of controversial quotes by FPÖ chief Heinz-Christian Strache. The right-winger allegedly discussed with a friend whether supporters of his party were "the new Jews". Strache reportedly raised the question during the Corporations Ball. After having remained silent following the accusations for some days, Strache said he only debated the quote as something Haider once said.

Strache caused further outcry by comparing what ball guests had to go through as they tried to make their way into Hofburg Palace with what occurred on Reichskristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in 1938 when the Third Reich’s Nazis set synagogues and Jewish people’s shops on fire.

The People’s Party (ÖVP) – which currently forms a coalition with the SPÖ – refused to rule out another partnership with the FPÖ nevertheless. ÖVP boss Michael Spindelegger, whose party has been part of the Austrian government for 25 years, stressed that he strongly disagreed with Strache’s statements and all kinds of xenophobic and fascist mindset – but also claimed that "you never know what the situation is like after elections."

The Viennese Corporations Ball is organised by 21 right-wing student fraternities including Strache’s Olympia. It has taken place at Hofburg Palace since 1968. A group of companies managing the venue’s promotion and marketing activities felt the public pressure – and decided that this year’s ball would be the last edition to take place at the palace which is also a popular tourist attraction. Several five-star hotels including Vienna’s Hotel Sacher are part of the business consortium which is confronted by calls for a boycott by FPÖ officials as a consequence.