In the course of the Academics Ball in the Vienna Hofburg on March 7, there will again be protests. Therefore, a ban on the Heldenplatz will be imposed, and the restricted area will come into effect at 5:00 PM. The Ringstraße will be closed to traffic in sections from this time. The police recommend bypassing the inner-city area on a large scale. In total, several hundred police officers will be deployed.

Several Demonstrations Announced Against Vienna Academics Ball

Around the Academics Ball, according to police information, several stationary demonstrations have been reported in the inner-city area. Additionally, there is a march demonstration against the ball, which critics describe as an international networking meeting of right-wing extremists: The "Offensive Against the Right" has again called for a demonstration march through the city center from 5:00 PM - from Universitätsring via Hohen Markt to Stephansplatz.

Demos Cause Closures and Detours in Vienna City Center

Due to the demonstrations and the ban, traffic disruptions are to be expected in and around the city center, according to the police. From 5:00 PM, the Ringstraße will be closed to vehicle traffic between Operngasse and Wipplingerstraße. Furthermore, there will be short-term temporary traffic closures and diversions in the assembly area itself as well as on the adjacent streets. Access to the event venue will be possible for ball guests.

The police recommend bypassing the area on a large scale. Public transport users should also expect restrictions.

Police in Large-Scale Operation Due to Demos Against Academics Ball

Around the ball, several hundred police officers from Vienna and the federal states of Lower Austria and Upper Austria will be deployed. The traffic club ÖAMTC also expects traffic disruptions and also advised switching to public transport or bypassing on a large scale.

Access to the Hofburg itself will, according to the police, "depend on the willingness to allow clothing and carried containers to be searched," as stated in a press release.

The ball is sold out, as the ball organizer and Vienna City Councilor Udo Guggenbichler (FPÖ) told the APA. In the past, the event has been repeatedly accompanied by sometimes intense protests. Particularly in 2014, there were numerous acts of vandalism and also a significant number of injured demonstrators and police officers. However, in the years that followed, the situation calmed down significantly.

The discontent was always primarily directed against German-national fraternities, who have been organizing and shaping the event since 1952. Until 2012, the event was organized by the Vienna Corporation Ring (WKR). After disagreements with the Vienna Hofburg, the FPÖ Vienna took over the organization, renaming it the "Academics Ball."

Several FPÖ Politicians Among Prominent Ball Guests

The guest list has repeatedly caused a stir in recent years. For instance, Identitarian Movement co-founder Martin Sellner has been present at the Vienna Hofburg on several occasions.

The FPÖ will be strongly represented at the ball. Although party leader Herbert Kickl, as usual, will not attend, National Council President Walter Rosenkranz will be present, although he will not deliver the opening speech as he did recently. This year, a scientist will take on this role, it was announced in advance. Among those who have confirmed their attendance are Vienna's FPÖ state party leader Dominik Nepp and Vienna club chairman Maximilian Krauss.

According to reports, pro-Palestinian participants are also present at the demonstrations, who have recently shown no hesitation in associating with movements that refer to terrorists as "freedom fighters." This is said to be the reason why there are several independent rallies.

Organizer Guggenbichler expressed his anger: "That the radical left wants to disrupt our ball again by trying to make it difficult for ball attendees to reach the Hofburg with demonstrations is sad enough. But that a clearly anti-Semitic group is mixing in is to be rejected and condemned in the strongest terms." Anti-Semitism should not be given any space in the city, he stated in a statement sent to the APA.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.