Austrian parliament holds remembrance ceremony for victims of National Socialism

VIENNA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Austrian parliament on Friday held its traditional ceremony to remember the victims of the National Socialist regime and to stand against racism and violence.

President of the lower house, the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka led the proceedings at the event at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.

In a speech he warned of the emergence of new anti-semitism around the world. One must not simply "shrug one's shoulders" to this, instead must fight against it, he said.

President of the upper house, the Federal Council, Reinhard Todt also noted that "we bear the responsibility that isolation and exclusion never again gain the upper hand."

Numerous members of the Austrian government including Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, members of oppositions parties and the European Parliament attended the event. Enditem