FPOE Freedom Party of Austria

Austria Expels Two Russian Diplomats and Austrian Ambassador in Moscow is Summoned

After Austria recently declared two Russian diplomats undesirable persons, Russia is now summoning Austria's ambassador to the Foreign Ministry. This indicates a serious deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries. So far, a total of eleven Russian diplomats have been expelled from Austria since 2020

March 14, 2024

Controversy Over FPÖ Candidacy for Yad Vashem Board Shakes Jewish Communities

The nomination of Wels Mayor Andreas Rabl of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) for a position on the board of the "Austrian Friends of Yad Vashem" has triggered a broad wave of outrage and criticism that reaches far beyond Austria's borders. Rabl's candidacy, known for his affiliation with a party that is often criticized for its extreme right-wing tendencies, was met with staunch opposition from renowned institutions and personalities.

February 22, 2024

Austria Plans to Withdraw from Russian Gas Contracts

In a decisive step against continued energy dependence, Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) announced that she would end the gas supply contracts between OMV and the Russian company Gazprom. The contracts, which run until 2040 and oblige Austria to purchase significant quantities, are under critical review. Gewessler commissioned the Economic Research Institute (WIFO) to carry out a detailed analysis of the economic consequences of termination and the risks of continued dependency.

February 12, 2024

Exciting Race for EU Mandates: Austria's Parties in Starting Position

Austria's political landscape is gearing up for an exciting election year, starting with the election of EU representatives in June. The Neos were recently the last of the parliamentary parties to complete their list of candidates and their election program, marking the official start of preparations for the EU elections. Despite this great start to the campaign, the rise of right-wing populist parties in Europe and the troubled relations between the EU and Russia will make the EU elections even more complicated.

January 31, 2024

Political Thriller Around the Abramovich Villa in Austria

The sale of a villa on Lake Fuschl to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich's family in Salzburg has been revealed to have disappeared. The property was acquired through an offshore letterbox company and a British trustee. The Green Party is now calling for the sale to be reversed, requiring a trust deed. The party is seeking clarification on how the sale can be reversed without the deed.

January 9, 2024

Austria's Industry Welcomes "Schengen Air" Agreement

Austrian industry has recently expressed its support for the "Schengen Air" agreement with Romania and Bulgaria. This agreement is seen as an important step towards European integration, especially for Central and Eastern Europe.

January 1, 2024

Discussion in Austria's Parliament on Security Policy Concerning Ukraine and Israel

In the run-up to the European Council, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met in Parliament to discuss current security policy challenges.

December 13, 2023

Pilnacek Affair: Entanglements, Revelations and Political Upheavals in Austria

The Austrian political landscape is currently being rocked by the Pilnacek affair, a complex entanglement of power, secrets and political calculation. At the center is the late head of the justice section Christian Pilnacek, whose secretly recorded audio raises new accusations against the ÖVP.

December 7, 2023

Discussion in the Austrian Parliament on Dual Citizenship for South Tyroleans

A motion for a resolution recently tabled in the Austrian Parliament by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on the introduction of dual citizenship for South Tyroleans was rejected by the other parliamentary groups. This proposal aimed to allow members of the German and Ladin-speaking ethnic groups in South Tyrol to acquire Austrian citizenship in addition to Italian citizenship.

November 26, 2023

Solidarity with Israel in the Austrian National Council

In a remarkable session of the Austrian National Council, strong solidarity with Israel and a clear condemnation of Hamas and its terrorist attacks were demonstrated. The unanimous decision of the MPs reflects Austria's stance on the Middle East conflict and the violence in the region.

November 26, 2023

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister in Vienna: Focus on Austria's Schengen Veto against Bulgaria and Romania

At a meeting in Vienna, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Mariya Gabriel, and her Austrian counterpart, Alexander Schallenberg, emphasized the importance of close cooperation between their countries for security and stability in Europe. Both countries will soon be celebrating 145 years of diplomatic relations and underlined their role as key players in European politics. However, the meeting was overshadowed by Austria's Schengen veto against Bulgaria and Romania.

November 22, 2023

Herbert Kickl and the FPÖ: Propagating "Fortress Austria"

Herbert Kickl, the chairman of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), is already in an election campaign mood and reiterated his critical stance on migration and asylum policy in Austria and Europe at a press conference. In clear terms, he called for an "asylum stop" and the implementation of a "Fortress Austria". His rhetoric was aimed at a strict demarcation policy and an election victory.

November 15, 2023

Austrian Politics Between Neutrality and Security Policy

A heated political climate is currently shaping the political debate in Austria, where the FPÖ and other political groups in parliament are debating the issues of neutrality, security policy, and the right approach to current crises.

October 31, 2023

Othmar Karas' Reckoning with the ÖVP

For about 25 years, Othmar Karas, the first vice president of the EU Parliament, was a weighty member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in the European context. His withdrawal from the EU election and the associated clear criticism of his party caused a political stir in Austria.

October 12, 2023

EX-FPÖ Defense Minister Herbert Scheibner: Shadow Diplomacy in Syria and Iran

In the summer of 2019, when Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was acting with extreme brutality against the rebels in Idlib, former FPÖ Defense Minister Herbert Scheibner went on a trip to Syria. He met high-ranking representatives of the Assad regime in Damascus and later visited the Iranian ambassador in Vienna. But what drove Scheibner to these meetings?

October 9, 2023

Austria Reacts to Hamas Attack: Solidarity with Israel and Concern about Iran

Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna. Austria strongly condemned the official Iranian reaction to the attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorist organization. The Foreign Ministry stressed that Austria categorically rejects any questioning of Israel's right to exist and will consistently act against any form of anti-Semitism in the future.

October 9, 2023

Austria Takes Position Against Russian Wagner Group

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council in Parliament has unanimously supported an initiative against the activities of the Russian Wagner Group. This follows allegations that the group is involved in human rights abuses and war crimes in Ukraine and other countries. The committee calls for Austria to take action with European partners to limit the group's influence and global presence.

October 5, 2023

FPÖ-Delegation Visits Taliban in Afghanistan

Several members of the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) traveled to Afghanistan and met, among others, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The meeting became known through a press release from the Afghan Foreign Ministry, which also published a photo of the delegation.

September 25, 2023

EU-Mercosur Pact: Austria's Balancing Act between Trade Opportunities and Sustainability

The discussion about the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay - is entering a new round. While some see the treaty as an opportunity to intensify trade between the two economic areas, others raise serious concerns about its impact on the environment and social standards.

September 19, 2023

Austria EU Representative Selmayr at Dispute Because Of "Blood Money" Statement

EU representative Martin Selmayr has called Austrian gas payments to Russia "blood money". Now reprimanded by Vienna and Brussels, EU Commission representative Martin Selmayr does not want to give up his job in Austria.

September 14, 2023

Historic Center of Vienna Remains on the UNESCO Red List

The historic center of Vienna remains on UNESCO's red list of endangered World Heritage Sites despite recent changes to the Heumarkt project. This was decided by UNESCO. Now it is being examined whether the project is compatible with World Heritage in this way.

September 13, 2023

Austria Stresses Need in Fight Against Illegal Migration Despite Rejection of Higher EU Budget

Dealing with irregular migration, increasing the EU budget as well as foreign and economic policy considerations were the focus of the Parliament's EU Main Committee today. Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer reiterated his opposition to a higher EU budget, but at the same time stressed the great need for funding in the fight against illegal migration.

June 28, 2023

FPÖ-Uproar over Planed Zelenskyy Speech in the Austrian Parliament

A virtual speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled for March 30 in the Austrian parliament. In the run-up to the event, the Austrian party with good relations with the Kremlin, the FPÖ, has voiced sharp criticism.

March 26, 2023

Working in Austria: Red-White-Red Card Facilitations Approved

The Social Affairs Committee of the National Council has approved facilitations for the Red-White-Red Card. Most importantly, german language skills criteria were eased for certain industries.

March 23, 2023

Neutrality Debate in Austria's Parliament at Ukraine Session

On the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a lively debate in the Austrian parliament about the attitude towards the aggressor Russia and about neutrality. An open letter in Austria, in which signatories call for a responsible debate about the country's neutrality, also fueled the session in parliament.

February 24, 2023

FPÖ-Russia Relations After a Year of War in Ukraine

Traditionally close to the Kremlin, Austria's Freedom Party is currently part of a thriller in parliament. Its party finances and any contracts with the Russian party United Russia are still not largely known, even after a year of war in Ukraine.

February 22, 2023

Austrian Government Considers Rent Cap

In consideration of a looming rent increase in April, the coalition parties Austrian Peoples Party (OEVP) and the Green Party are now also interested in a possible rent cap.

February 6, 2023

Austria Stuck in a Dilemma at the OSCE

Austria may cause some controversy at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna by letting sanctioned Russian politicians enter the country and granting them visas. Moreover, of all days, the Parliamentary Assembly will be held on February 23 and 24.

February 1, 2023

Austrian Parliament Calls for More Support for Protests in Iran

The Austrian Parliament, the National Council, unanimously condemned the violent suppression of the current protests in Iran. The deputies demanded that actions on the part of Iranian institutions in Austria be monitored more closely and punished.

November 22, 2022

Austria's Government Under New Challenge: Are New Elections Coming?

With his statements, Thomas Schmid, ex-Secretary General at the Ministry of Finance, has incriminated many former and current top politicians of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), some of them heavily. Although much was already relatively well known in the investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKSta) triggered by the Ibiza affair, Schmid has provided a great deal of new material in the cases surrounding appointments to posts, tax and advertising deals in the Austrian government. In Austrian politics, a new crisis is now brewing for the ÖVP-Green coalition government.

October 20, 2022
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