"Nazis out" counter-demonstration

“Nazis out”: demonstration overshadows FPÖ closing ceremony

While FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was celebrated by his supporters, opponents of the Freedom Party demonstrated away from the stage with slogans such as "Nazis out".

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/AP APA)

The FPÖ held its final rally on St. Stephen's Square in Vienna on Friday evening. In his incendiary speech, party leader Herbert Kickl recalled the blue campaign finale 25 years ago, when Jörg Haider mobilized his supporters - also on St. Stephen's Square - and then achieved the best result for the Freedom Party in national elections. "The result was a triumph, but it wasn't enough to win. 25 years later it will be different. We will realize the legacy and the dream of Jörg Haider," Kickl swore his supporters in for the election Sunday. Once again, the blue event did not take place without a counter-demonstration and a massive police presence. 

It was no coincidence that the Freedom Party chose St. Stephen's Square as the location for the final event. Kickl had already campaigned in the current election campaign with slogans such as "Your will be done".

Kickl had a "Ganslhaut" in 1999
But the choice of location also had another background, as Kickl noted in his speech: Jörg Haider had spoken here 25 years ago. As a "small employee" of the party, he had a "goose skin" back then. Kickl hopes to top the record result of that time on Sunday.

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

(Bild: APA Pool/The Associated Press)

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

(Bild: Paul Vecsei)

Austrian flags and blue balloons
Kickl made it clear to his fans, decked out with Austrian flags and blue balloons, what he expects from the election: "Together we will achieve something on Sunday that has never been seen before in this country: A liberal number one and a liberal chancellor." Together we will ensure "that the blue miracle becomes a red-white-red miracle". The others would have "the tailwind from the system and the headwind from the population". With the FPÖ, it is the other way around.

(Bild: Paul Vecsei)

Kickl attacks Nehammer
As in previous appearances, Kickl's displeasure was mainly directed at the government and ÖVP Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer. "First the people and then the chancellor," he propagated once again. "I want to make a breach for normality and common sense," he railed against the prevailing "zeitgeist" in front of his supporters. "No solidarity with the warmongers", he also once again spoke out against supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia and called for Austrian neutrality.

"Compulsory vaccination" by the government
Vienna's FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp, Vienna's top candidate Harald Stefan and General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz had previously campaigned for "People's Chancellor" Kickl. The latter - like Kickl himself - recalled the government's "vaccination obligation", for which it would be presented with the bill on Sunday. Protagonists of the opponents of the corona measures had also joined the FPÖ, such as Martin Rutter and the South Tyrolean Jürgen Wirth Anderlan, who was even allowed on stage briefly.

"Nazis out" slogans at the counter-demo
Away from the stage, behind barriers guarded by police officers, opponents of the Freedom Party made their displeasure known. The counter-demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Nazis out". From the stage, Kickl gave the "little bunch of counter-demonstrators" a "warm welcome" - not without scorn.