Austria election result a ‘warning for Europe’ despite far-right defeat

[webfact]

Austria election result a ‘warning for Europe’ despite far-right defeat

 

 

VIENNA: -- EU leaders have welcomed the outcome of Austria’s presidential election as a brake on the advance of anti-establishment forces in Europe – despite events in Italy which saw the fall of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi following his referendum defeat.

 

The winner in Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, has pledged to become a “pro-EU” leader. The environmentalist described his victory as a “signal of hope” for other European Union countries.

 

His defeated far-right candidate Norbert Hofer had campaigned on a strong anti-immigration platform amid an influx of refugees.

 

But in Austria itself – where the final margin of victory is expected to be six or seven points – opinions are divided.

 

“My opinion is that this was a warning for Europe. In spite of Van der Bellen’s victory you could see, if you watched TV yesterday, that the majority of the people in this country are not satisfied and perhaps also in Europe, and the politicians should take the initiative to do something about it together and not work against each other,” said Josef Ischeb, a Vienna resident.

 

“I find it very good that reason won over the populist idea but it will not stop, this is a story that will go on. There will be new elections and the cards will be dealt again. So I don’t see this as such a big success because it is only a small glimmer of hope,” said another man who lives in the capital, Thomas Martin.

 

Austria’s election was a re-run of May’s election which was overturned because of irregularities.

 

The president has a largely ceremonial role but the election – a re-run of May’s overturned vote – was seen as an important test of anti-establishment sentiment.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-06

 

[Grouse]

Warning? Over egged conclusion based on the view of a couple of residents.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

This result has to be considered in the context of the other economic and recent political events in Europe and overall, one has to come to the conclusion that the writing is on the wall for the EU.

[RuamRudy]

14 minutes ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

This result has to be considered in the context of the other economic and recent political events in Europe and overall, one has to come to the conclusion that the writing is on the wall for the EU.

 

Hopefully the EU takes stock of the discontent that is brewing, and takes serious steps to address the widely held concerns that people have. I believe that the EU is crucial to a stable and prosperous Europe, but across the continent the far right is exploiting EU weaknesses to bolster their own positions. The EU may be serving the people poorly in some respects, but its disintegration will do nothing to benefit the working classes - we are being fooled into thinking that the EU is the enemy.

[elgordo38]

Brussels does not take warnings very well as they are the captain of the ship. They are hailing this election win as a big victory. Guess they better count their "victories" while they can. 

[smudger1951]

The majority of austrians who voted  for van de bellen were women apparently. Yet these are the ones who suffer the rape and abuse from the huge influx of foreigners. This will not end here !