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3,000 form chain of light against far right in Austrian government

 

Demonstrators hold candles in a protest demanding no government participation for the far right in Vienna, Austria, November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

 

VIENNA (Reuters) - At least 3,000 people formed a chain of light in Vienna on Wednesday to protest against the formation of a government that includes the far-right Freedom Party.

 

Demonstrators holding flickering candles, torches and bicycle lamps encircled the capital's government district.

 

"Our republic's most powerful political offices should be exclusively reserved for trustworthy people who are not in the slightest connected to right-wing extremists," said Alexander Pollak, spokesman for SOS Mitmensch, one of several human rights groups which organised the demonstration.

 

It was the biggest protest in Austria since coalition talks between the conservative People's Party (OVP) and the Freedom Party (FPO) started two weeks ago.

 

Organisers estimated the number of people taking part at 8,000 to 10,000, the police at around 3,000.

 

"We are here because they (the FPO) feed hatred and want to divide people," said Brigitte Griesser, holding a candle.

 

But the protest was far smaller than unrest 17 years ago, when the FPO last formed a government with the OVP and more than 100,000 took to the streets.

 

"(The shift to the right) has become a European trend... it's no longer just an Austrian issue and that's why it is not that controversial any longer," said protester Juergen Pucher.

 

(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; editing by Andrew Roche)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-16

[FreddieRoyle]

Anti-democracy protesters, a disgusting bunch. It is a disgrace how the media tries to make them sound all virtuous, but they are a group of elitists that believe they know better than everybody else and that only their wishes should prevail (as they completely and forever ruin their nation by setting it down a path that leads to certain destruction of culture and heritage). Sad.

[Scott]

Troll post removed.  

[jobwolf]

Wow this sounds like halve of Austria was out protesting. At least 3 times as many as my home village population.                

 

[chilli42]

Income inequality is driving populist politics and public unrest.  The only way back to stability is to address income inequality.  Though I fear it is too late for that.  Greedy Corporations have their claws too deep into government and will continue to suck the life out of the general population.  We are all being played for fools.