|
Vienna: The future course of Austria's government was in doubt on Sunday after two far-right, anti-immigration parties made big gains in national elections while the governing coalition lost seats in parliament.
The conservative Austrian People's Party and the Social Democrats, who form the governing coalition, had their worst showings since Second World War.
Two rightist parties - the Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria - capitalised on voter discontent and got a combined 29 per cent in Sunday's balloting. Both parties advocate an end to immigration and the expulsion of foreigners and asylum seekers who commit crimes.
Talks soon
At least one of the far-right parties could end up part of a new ruling coalition. Talks on a new government are expected to begin later this week and could drag on for months.
The People's Party called a meeting yesterday afternoon amid speculation that leader Wilhelm Molterer would step down after his party's disastrous results.
On paper, a role in a new coalition seemed within the right's grasp.
In 1999 elections, the Freedom Party - then headed by rightist firebrand Joerg Haider - won 27 per cent of the votes and was included in the government, leading to months of European Union sanctions over statements seen as anti-Semitic or sympathetic to the labour policies of Adolf Hitler's.
But analysts said their resurgence basically came from protest votes cast by Austrians disgruntled with the current centre-right governing coalition - seen by many as out of touch and even infantile because of their off-and-on feuding.
And Social Democrat leader Werner Faymann has rejected the possibility of joining forces with either right-wing party.
Peter Filzmaier, a leading political analyst, said Sunday's results did not signal that Austrians were becoming more extremist.
|
