April 24, 2016, hosted the first phase of elections of the Federal President of Austria. For the first time in the history of a neutral country for President claims to be the leader of the right-wing nationalists from the Freedom Party. These claims have received strong electoral support 24.04.2016.
According to the Austrian Constitution the President has wide powers. He is the Supreme commander over all the security forces. He concludes international treaties and maintain diplomatic communications at the highest level. He appoints all members of the government headed by the Chancellor, all judges, officers and civil servants. He has the right of approval of all laws, the dismissal of the Ministers individually, the dissolution of the Cabinet and the lower house of the Parliament as a whole.
In political practice the President of Austria is similar to the British monarch. Fulfilling a representative role with stately dignity. However, the Royal person is not required to be re-elected every six years – the head of the Austrian state is replaced with this periodicity, it is possible to combine two six-year terms of office.
The Austrian Freedom Party, the only time was part of the ruling coalitions, in the now distant 1999. But its popularity is growing for the tenth year in a row. Interesting slogans APS period 2005-2006, describing the program objectives of the party in a compressed presentation:
“The work is immigration!” – labour against the domination of “come in large numbers” of migrants, in support of the indigenous population.
“Vienna is not Istanbul!”, “No to Turkey’s accession to the EU!” – specification of source migration problems cute Austria.
“Toughen Austrian citizenship!” – a call for the preservation of the national demography, identity and culture. The procedure for obtaining Austrian citizenship in the last 10 years have really tightened.
“Down with the EU Constitution!” – demonstration of euroscepticism during the period of rosy illusions about the unity of an expanding Europe.
In 2016 the leaders of the APS justifiably say “We warned you – check out the results of the policy of the ruling parties!”.
Feast your eyes on United Europe, partitioned walls and border crossings.
Feast your eyes on migration flows that are engulfing our little Austria.
Marvel at the 800,000 new immigrants in Austria, immigrants of the XXI century – they make up 10 % of the total population of the country!
Look at the colleagues on EU, who seek to get rid of refugees by any subterfuge, unlike compassionate and sympathetic Austrians.
Feast your eyes on the chronic stagnation of the economy and questionable social costs.
Marvel at the incompetence of the government institutions of Brussels, to the hesitation of traditional political forces in Austria itself.
Feast your eyes on the Frank dictates of Ankara, to blackmail the EU worth €6 billion, How many of those billions belong to the hardworking Austrians?!
Negative, scathing and largely fair criticism proved to be effective. The leading party of Austria election of the President of the country suffered a resounding defeat and both were not even in the second round. For the first time since 1945! It was predicted in the early spring, but the other sociology was inaccurate. The right candidate APS predicted 22-24 % support, his main task was proclaimed the exit in the second round. Acceptable and rukopozhatnye rivals pressed the kicker from the top Executive post. In Analytics and survey reports.
April 24 has placed assurances and hopes under the new roster. Voter turnout was significantly higher than the previous election – 68.1 % vs. 53.6 %. For representative scenery so actively don’t vote. The results of the vote in the presidential election in Austria was as follows:
The oldest candidate, 84-year-old billionaire, philanthropist and Opera fan, R. Lohner gained 2.3 %.
The representative of the Austrian people’s Party, former Parliament speaker 75-year-old Kohl was content to 11.1 %.
Acting Minister from the ruling social democratic party 65-year-old R. Hundstorfer made similarly – 11.3 %.
The only lady candidate, a professional lawyer and former President of the Supreme court of Austria I. Griss has collected 18.9 % of electoral sympathies.
Formally an independent candidate, former chair of the green party 72-year-old A. van der Bellen has managed to outpace its minimally – 20.3 % of the vote.
Leadership shocking N. Hofer, energetic and young politician (45 years) on the background of rivals is undeniable – 36.4 %.
In the second round of elections of the President of the Republic of Austria on 24 of may this year nationalist right N. Hofer will compete with former environmentalist van der Bellen. In the first round Hofer was stronger Bellen almost half. The popularity of the traditional Austrian parties is at a catastrophic level of 11 %.
Once marginal APS 10 years ago had the same popularity at 11 %. Now its a close candidate to the post of the Federal President of Austria prosperous. Not only because of anti-immigration and euroskeptic views. APS promises to create jobs, to cooperate with trade unions, to protect nature, improve the health care system and to simplify the access of law-abiding citizens to firearms. N. Hofer emphasizes the constant wearing of the Glock pistol (Austrian production!) in our difficult times. Come in large numbers here, you know…
Of course, the success of the Austrian right is provisional. Just six months ago, the French national Front was leading in regional elections by a wide margin – but in the second round throughout lost United opponents. The Austrian Freedom Party could become the ruling in 1999, but was subjected to domestic and international obstruction. The EU opposed the Austrian nationalist United front, freezing official contacts with Vienna. Israel withdrew from Austria its Ambassador, explaining this move of the Nazi past of the founding fathers of APS. Then right-wing nationalists were afraid of his success and ignominiously withdrew in the opposition, for a long 17 years.
24 may 2016 it will become clear who has done better work on the mistakes of the past to succeed in the political present. It will become clear how great the irritation of the recommendations of Brussels in one of the safest countries in the EU. It will become clear if traditional and independent candidates to joint electoral campaign on a single scenario. It will become clear whether the Austrian voter to such an unusual President – a new, original, Patriotic and forward-looking policies. But with the scandalous image, with an aura of xenophobia and barrel with a Glock in a shoulder holster.
Ready new Austrian President to continue the tradition of the decorative pieces away from the levers of power, will be explained later.
Constitutional access to these levers it has.
