Calls for a boycott beforehand

Reminders from political leaders on Holocaust Remembrance Day

At the 15th commemorative event organized by the "Jetzt.Zeichen.Setzen" association on Heldenplatz, the focus was on the possible chancellorship of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl.

(Bild: Lukas Ernst)

On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 1500 people came together on Monday evening to remember the Jewish victims of the Nazi regime, according to the organizers. Due to the participation of National Council President Walter Rosenkranz at the commemorative event in parliament, there were calls for a boycott in advance. The SPÖ, Greens and Neos were nevertheless present.

Then as now, the FPÖ cultivated a revisionist culture of remembrance and a problematic approach to the National Socialist past, as the recent scandal surrounding the SS-Treuelied affair would once again confirm, explained the GEDENKDIENST association in a press release. Walter Rosenkranz's inglorious involvement would be part of a history of "individual cases". In the past, for example, he relativized German national anti-Semitism and glorified convicted Nazi criminals as "top performers in Austria", according to the association.

The possible chancellorship of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was also at the forefront of the commemorative event at Heldenplatz.

(Bild: Lukas Ernst, Krone KREATIV)

(Bild: Lukas Ernst)

Most recently, Rosenkranz tried to have the police enforce a wreath-laying ceremony on Judenplatz on November 9 against a human chain of descendants of Shoah survivors in front of running cameras. The Jewish Austrian University Students prevented this and formed a human chain around the memorial. They told the fraternity member: "Anyone who honors Nazis is worth nothing!"

On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp, there had been numerous appeals and admonitions from the Austrian political leadership: Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) appealed that "especially in these times" it was a responsibility and obligation to stand up for an active culture of remembrance. "Everyone must take a stand against anti-Semitism, because this is the only way we can ensure that 'never forget' actually becomes 'never again'," said Edtstadler in a statement.

Rosenkranz himself described a Nazi war criminal, who had 44 prisoners shot in the final days of the dictatorship, as a "high achiever". In November, Jewish students prevented him from laying a wreath.

(Bild: EVA MANHART)

National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) and the "Kickl-FPÖ" are at the center of criticism, especially on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

(Bild: APA Österreich Bild/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Babler and Kogler warn against FPÖ
On the occasion of Remembrance Day, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler warned against the Europe-wide "shift to the right and the associated attacks on democracy and human rights". In view of this, it is particularly important to "protect democracy and strengthen cohesion", Babler said in a press release with regard to the "Kickl-FPÖ", which has diverse and close links to right-wing extremists and endangers democracy.

Similar reminders also came from Green Party leader Werner Kogler: "It is up to us to fulfill our obligation to remember. Especially now, when the door to the Chancellery is to be opened for a right-wing extremist. The ÖVP, the former party of the state, is burdening itself with a historical debt by misusing voters' votes," said Kogler.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl also made a strong statement. The "remembrance of this darkest chapter in our country's history" must above all be a reminder to "always stand up for our freedom, our democracy and especially for human dignity". Politicians have a particularly great responsibility to "remove the breeding ground for all types of extremism and ensure a stable, vibrant democracy", Kickl said in a press release, citing in particular the defense of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The cooperation with the FPÖ clearly shows the extent to which the ÖVP subordinates its often asserted values to the preservation of power. The ÖVP is not only accepting the normalization of right-wing extremist positions, it is also a legitimate political calculation. If the ÖVP has forgotten what it was like to live under the last People's Chancellor, they are welcome to read about it in this history book.

Marie Lang, stellvertretende Obfrau des Vereins GEDENKDIENST

The Jewish Austrian Students (JöH) accused the ÖVP of forgetting history and criticized its attitude towards Lueger, Dollfuß and Waldheim as well as its support for the first right-wing extremist chancellor since 1945. Together with the GEDENKDIENST association, they presented the party with the history book "Zeitbilder 7" on Monday to fill in the gaps in its memory and accused it of sacrificing values to maintain power. 

The JöH remind the ÖVP of their election promise and accuse them of forgetfulness: 

Commemoration in parliament and at Heldenplatz
While the head of state, represented by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellery Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP), took part in the international commemoration ceremony in Auschwitz on Monday together with IKG President Oskar Deutsch, a discussion event for pupils with contemporary witness Erika Freeman took place in Vienna's parliament in the afternoon, with National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) also announcing his participation. There were no political speeches this year.

Freeman promoted humanity: "When you do something good, it does you good." You can't love everyone, but you can be nice to everyone - "being polite isn't bad either". She also believes that hope should not be lost: "The fact that I am sitting here is truly the wonder of the world." National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) was the first of those present to give a standing ovation.

The Vice President of the Jewish Community (IKG) Claudia Prutscher spoke at a "JetztZeichenSetzen" event on Heldenplatz that evening. The 15th commemorative event organized by the association also focused on the possible chancellorship of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. In front of 1500 visitors, according to the organizers, Prutscher said that although the danger had been seen, it had probably been underestimated. People had believed too much in the promises of the parties not to make Kickl chancellor.

"Our concerns are greater than ever"
Now we have to take a "more than worried look at the Federal Chancellery", said Prutscher: "Our worries are greater than ever before." Lia Guttmann from the Jewish Austrian University Students also looked angrily in the direction of the ÖVP. When Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) announces a daily fight against anti-Semitism, but the People's Party wants to make Kickl chancellor, the graves of their grandparents are being spat on.

Representatives of the Roma and Sinti Students' Union also expressed their concern about the protection of minorities under an FPÖ-led government and drew parallels with the rise of National Socialism. Organizer Niki Kunrath, Member of Parliament for the Vienna Green Party, said: "80 years after the fall of National Socialism, Austria is now facing the threat of an extreme right-wing government for the first time.