Protest Against FPÖ Government Attracted Thousands of Participants in Vienna

According to the organisers, there were 50,000, while authorities estimated 25,000 people. NGOs such as Volkshilfe, Greenpeace and SOS Mitmensch had called for a human chain in front of the Federal Chancellery under the motto "Alarm for the Republic". Hundreds also protested in other state capitals such as Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck.

"Perhaps Something Like a Turning Point"

In a conversation with the APA, Volkshilfe Federal Managing Director Erich Fenninger expressed dismay that ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, despite a parliamentary majority, had not overcome their differences in an incredibly difficult economic situation to form a joint government. "This is perhaps something like a turning point in the second republic", many find this "dismaying".

Under a FPÖ Chancellor Herbert Kickl, there is a threat that people will be devalued, people and NGOs will be removed from "wanted lists" and the next government will reshape the country following the model of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. People are therefore here to show that "civil society will remain vigilant, that it will not follow the same path as in some other states." Various posters warned of hate speech, social cutbacks, and setbacks in environmental protection. Given its history, Austria "cannot afford a far-right chancellor," emphasized "Grannies against the Right" spokeswoman Susanne Scholl, warning of an erosion of the rule of law and democracy and disregard for human rights under a Chancellor Herbert Kickl (FPÖ).

Demo Not Only in Vienna - Opponents of FPÖ-ÖVP Government Gathered in Innsbruck

In Innsbruck, opponents of a potential blue-black federal government met in the city centre early Thursday evening. The demonstrators gathered in front of the Anna Column on Maria-Theresien-Strasse, responding to a call from the "Alliance Against the Right". About 500 people attended the peaceful rally, according to the police report to APA.

There was also a demonstration in Graz on Thursday afternoon: 100 to 200 women, men and children gathered at Südtirolerplatz. The "Offensive Against the Right Styria" alliance had called for the rally. Several organisations and groups, such as the "Grandmothers Against the Right" or the "Revolutionary Communist Party", were involved. Together they demonstrated "against Blue-Black" and "against a Federal Chancellor Kickl". Among the chanted slogans was: "What does Black and Blue mean? Racism and social degradation." The rally also promoted a demonstration against the Graz Academic Ball on January 25th. In the coming weeks, a demonstration against the right is registered in Graz every Thursday.

At least 700 people gathered at the station square in Salzburg in the evening to protest against the looming blue-black federal government. "This coalition has nothing good in store for us," said Benita Kogler, spokesperson for Solidarity Salzburg. Several groups, such as the Grandmothers Against the Right, the Concentration Camp Association or the Austrian Students' Union, fear massive cuts in the lives of many people, restrictions on press and freedom of speech, setbacks in equality and climate protection, and a threat to the health and education systems. "As a so-called people's party, the ÖVP must consider the damage it causes to the wider society," said the Austrian Students' Union.

Are Thursday Demonstrations Returning?

The demonstrations could also be the starting signal for a new edition of the Thursday demonstrations outside of Graz. After the inauguration of the first black-blue coalition in February 2000, more than 150,000 people gathered at Vienna's Heldenplatz to protest against the new ÖVP-FPÖ government and their feared "racism and social degradation". In the following two years, weekly rallies with thousands of demonstrators took place. From October 2018, the demos were revived in Vienna and other cities due to the turquoise-blue under ÖVP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and FPÖ Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache. They came to a natural end when the Ibiza affair blew up the coalition. Even after the recent National Council election, which brought a record result of 29 percent for the FPÖ, thousands had already taken to the streets in early October against a possible government participation of the FPÖ. The organisers spoke of 25,000 participants.

(APA/Red)

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