Wants to "dismantle the EU"

Vilimsky wants “remigration” based on the Rwanda model

FPÖ EU top candidate Harald Vilimsky

(Bild: APA/ROBERT JAEGER)

Harald Vilimsky, the leading Freedom Party EU candidate, has spoken out in favor of removing illegal immigrants from the country based on the British Rwanda model. "That is remigration", said Vilimsky, who once again called for the EU to be dismantled. If someone is granted asylum, this is only ever temporary protection. Family reunification should therefore only take place in the country of origin.

The long-standing EU parliamentarian did not see any legal restrictions to his deportation plans. "Where there's a will, there's a way", he also referred to the establishment of Italian refugee camps in Albania.

In view of the tense situation in Europe, where there are neither jobs nor infrastructure for these people, no one from outside should be allowed onto the continent. Instead, protection and help should be provided outside Europe if necessary. Asylum procedures should be awaited outside Europe; he described agreements such as the UK's with Rwanda as a model.

"Dismantle the EU, halve the EU Commission"
 However, the EU institutions should be dismantled in the interests of taxpayers. The EU Commission should be halved, as should the number of MEPs in the EU Parliament, which is barely able to function due to the large number of members. If Austria no longer had an EU Commissioner, the country would lose nothing.

Von der Leyen engages in "warmongering"
Vilimsky defended the FPÖ's EU election poster, which accuses EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky of "warmongering". Selensky is a "puppet of the Americans". Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine could not be justified by anything, but Ukraine's plans to join NATO were already a provocation, he said on ORF's "Pressestunde".

AfD: "This story stinks beyond belief"
The right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) has received backing from the FPÖ in the espionage affair surrounding its top EU candidate Maximilian Krah. "I see the AfD as the victim here", said Vilimsky, referring to the time of the arrest of Krah's employee, who is alleged to have spied for China. "This story stinks beyond belief", said Vilimsky.

The German Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been following the employee "for years". "Why doesn't the German domestic intelligence service inform the AfD MP? Why aren't people like me being informed?" the FPÖ's top EU candidate said rhetorically.

Schieder: "Enemies of Europe!"
 SPÖ EU lead candidate Andreas Schieder replied: "With their diction, the FPÖ and Vilimsky are the enemies of Europe and therefore the enemies of our homeland." It is clear that Austria needs a strong, united and social Europe in order to overcome the current challenges - inflation, climate change and war.