Off the wire
• Senior leader visits Kyrgyz autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang  • U.S. stocks open lower on Fed rate hike uncertainties  • 3rd Ld Writethru: At least 50 feared killed in boat capsizing in northeast India  • China remains unbeaten by beating Lebanon 90-72 at Asian Championship  • Roundup: Taliban overrun parts of Afghan northern Kunduz city, gov't dispatches reinforcement  • Wuhan Open WTA results  • ATP Shenzhen Open results  • Africa Focus: Striking Kenyan teachers ignore court order, keep off schools  • China becomes first non-EU country to announce contribution to Juncker plan: EU  • Syrian airstrikes kill 15 in IS-held city  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: Austrian right-wing party rising in face of migration crisis

Xinhua, September 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Faced with a continuing influx of refugees, the Austrian right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) gained a big victory in the country's regional election as European political leader fail to find a solution to the crisis.

FPO finished second in the election of the state of Upper Austria on Sunday, obtaining 31.4 percent of the vote.

The center-right Austrian People's Party (OVP) emerged at first place but lost 10 percentage points compared to the 2009 election. The center-left Social Democrats (SPO) finished third.

Analysts said worries over the migrant crisis had a major influence on the election.

In recent months, Austria, together with Hungary has become a major transit "corridor" for tens of thousands of migrants to their preferred destination: German.

Due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, more migrants are expected to come in the near future.

Only a small proportion of migrants are expected to apply for asylum in Austria. However, Austria - a state with around 8.5 million inhabitants - would need a larger budget for the education, accommodation and medical insurance of migrants, not in the least because of stagnant growth.

The anti-immigrant FPO also scored over 30 percent in recent national opinion polls, challenging the Social Democrats and Conservatives coalition that has ruled the state for decades.

The rise of FPO is encouraging the party's leader Heinz-Christian Strache to set his goal on becoming Vienna's new mayor during elections later this year.

In the past decades, the influx of migrants from the Balkan region, Eastern Europe and Turkey made politicians quarrel about migration policy. About half of the population in Vienna has a mixed background. But today, the crisis seems to be more challenging.

Everyday, around 10,000 migrants come to Austria, crossing the eastern border with Hungary, but European leaders are still struggling to find a solution to the crisis.

Croatia said countries could create a corridor for migrants from the Balkans to Germany, through Hungary, Austria and onto Germany.

However, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said he does not support this proposal.

Hungary has closed its border with Serbia, blocking many migrants hoping to make it into the Schengen zone. Many are now trying to enter via Croatia.

The Austrian regional election results could be a barometer of public opinion and send the rest of Europe an important signal: If the refugee crisis can not be effectively controlled, right-wing parties will likely continue gaining ground in Europe's political landscape.

People worry large numbers of refugees might threaten social welfare. Responding to changing public opinion, the conservative People's Party has tried to tighten refugee policy.

For example, the OVP proposed that even if the people meet asylum conditions, refugees could only stay in Austria for three to five years. If after this time the national situation of refugees does not improve, the refugee obtain permanent asylum in Austria.

But FPO has yet to propose effective measures to solve the refugee crisis. Instead, it advocates a strict refugee policy, strengthened border protection and an immigration cap. Endit