Political Scandal at FPÖ Regulars' Table: Outrage with EU-critical and Derogatory Statements

PeopleOther ♦ Published: January 16, 2025; 10:46 ♦ (Vindobona)

A secretly recorded video from a FPÖ Regulars' Table or "Stammtisch" in Vienna-Simmering has sparked outrage. FPÖ National Council members Harald Stefan and Markus Tschank sharply criticized the ÖVP and the European Union, made derogatory remarks about refugees, and caused consternation with their praise for the Taliban regime.

Kickl's FPÖ and the First Scandals: Secret recordings of the FPÖ Stammtisch in Simmering have sparked a societal debate, questioning the party's stance on EU policy, migration, and human rights. / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons / C.Stadler/Bwag / CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

On January 8, 2025, around 30 people gathered for a political Stammtisch of the FPÖ Simmering in a Viennese tavern. Among the attendees were journalists from the French public broadcaster France Télévisions, who secretly recorded the event. The recordings, later published, document a series of controversial statements.