Place name signs defaced

Vorarlberg municipalities declared “FPÖ territory”

One of the graffitied village signs.

(Bild: Nadine Kasper/Facebook/Privat)

Place name signs defaced by unknown perpetrators are currently causing quite a stir in two Vorarlberg municipalities. This is because they have been declared "FPÖ territory" without further ado. A warning has also been issued against foreigners.

Unknown persons defaced the signs in the municipalities of Bartholomäberg and Schruns (both in the district of Bludenz) with inscriptions such as "Attention foreigners" or "FPÖ area", while "Be smart, vote blue" could be read on one street. According to the Vorarlberg police, investigations have already begun.

Green politician: "We're not like that. Or are we?"
Green Party member of parliament Nadine Kasper drew attention to the crimes with an X-Posting. "Is Vorarlberg like this? We can do better. We're not like that. Or are we?" asked Kasper. NEOS state chairwoman Claudia Gamon was also shocked. She saw a deliberate overstepping of boundaries and demanded that FPÖ party leader Christof Bitschi distance himself.

ÖVP: Damage must not become part of the election campaign
It shows where election campaign rhetoric can lead. "This kind of exclusion must not be allowed in Vorarlberg. Fears, concerns and frustration must be expressed and discussed in open dialogue, not through vandalism," emphasized Gamon in a reaction. Damage to property should not become part of the election campaign in Vorarlberg, said ÖVP party leader Roland Frühstück. According to the small party ANDRS, the damage to property in Montafon - as well as to election posters - is due to the fact that people are no longer included in decision-making processes or are deliberately excluded.