By Francois Murphy
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won 29% of the vote in September’s parliamentary election, is to begin coalition talks with the conservative People’s Party (OVP) this week, aiming to create the country’s first FPO. – led by the government.
The Eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO and OVP align on immigration and taxation but clash over Russia and Ukraine. Below are the areas that can be easy and more difficult in their discussions.
approach to immigration
The parties take a similarly tough stance on immigration, to the point where the FPO has accused the OVP of copying its policies. However, the OVP led the outgoing coalition government and the FPO says it can go even further.
Both have pledged to put more police on the border, replace cash payments for refugees with benefits, and deport Afghans and Syrians to their homelands, even though it is not currently considered safe and therefore legal.
They also support the creation of centers outside the EU where asylum seekers’ claims are processed.
Both have said they are inspired by Denmark, but Denmark has opted out of the EU’s asylum policy, which Austria does not.
In 2022, Denmark agreed with Rwanda to create a system whereby asylum seekers arriving in Denmark would be taken there. This work was later stopped and Denmark moved to create a similar system together with the EU or other EU member states.
Other FPO ideas may be more difficult for the OVP to accept, such as stripping naturalized Austrians of their citizenship if they commit a crime, or implementing “throwbacks” that forcibly return people to neighboring countries in Austria, which appear to be widespread. as illegal in the EU.
The FPO wants to limit social benefits for Austrian citizens, establish a national preference for social housing and deny asylum seekers all but basic medical care, which could be challenged in court if introduced.
Position regarding Russia
The FPO opposes EU aid to Kiev and sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, arguing that they violate Austria’s neutrality.
The OVP-led government says Austria’s military neutrality, which prevents it from sending arms, does not prohibit it from taking a political side. OVP says Austria should support Ukraine.
The FPO wants to cancel Austria’s participation in Europe’s planned Sky Shield missile defense system, which includes neighboring countries including Germany and Switzerland. OVP supports the project.
The OVP sought assurances from the FPO that it does not want Russian interference in Austria.
The FPO’s manifesto, published before Russian gas cut off the pipeline to Austria last week, said Russian gas “will continue to make a significant contribution to our security of supply”. OVP fully supported the transition to other sources.
media
The FPO accuses the national broadcaster ORF of being left-wing and trying to “indoctrinate” its viewers. He wants to eliminate the mandatory tax that funds the ORF and overhaul the ORF to promote it as objectivity. OVP says it supports independent media, but also wants to cut ORF.
economy
Both sides demand a reduction in income tax and oppose the introduction of new taxes. It is less clear how they will reduce Austria’s budget deficit, which must return to within the EU’s 3% economic output cap.
Both say the savings could come from cutting bureaucracy and government spending, without elaborating.
The FPO has vowed to force banks to make their loan terms more “fair” through measures such as capping interest rates on loans, reducing fees and extending tenure. This may prove difficult for a pro-business OVP to accept.
the environment
Both sides defend what they see as the right to drive gasoline-powered cars, and they oppose measures that would make it more expensive or harder to do so.
The FPO is calling for the existing carbon tax to be scrapped, opposes the EU’s ban on the sale of new petrol-powered cars from 2035 and wants to reduce the tax on new petrol-powered cars.
It also wants to cap fuel prices for trucks during “special inflationary phases.”