It is no secret that in the past few years a nationalist rhetoric and populism have taken over politics with a promise of turning back the effects of globalization have prevailed. With the Brexit vote in the UK this summer and the recent election of Donald Trump, Europe has shown promise of moving in the same direction. In Germany, Angela Merkel has faced opposition from the right, and in France, the same issue. An imperative referendum to amend Italy’s constitution is happening December 2nd. Current Italians PM, Matteo Renzi, has promised to step down should it be voted down. Thus, it is no surprise that Austria’s election is so important in this divided and uncertain period.
On the ballot for this presidential election in Austria are two parties. The first, the far-right “Freedom Party“, who have been successful in achieving double-digit votes in every parliamentary election since 1990. The significance though of this party is in its founding. The Freedom Party originated in 1945, founded by an SS officer. The historical relevance of this and the current situation in world politics cannot be overlooked. To head the “Freedom party” is Norbert Hofer. A win for the anti-refugee candidate, anti-tukey, and pro-EU, Hofer will, as the Economist noted:
“mark a grim milestone: the continent’s first democratically elected far-right head of state since 1945. It would also present a headache. In the past its neighbours isolated and upbraided Austria for its flirtations with nationalist extremism: like when in 1986 it elected Kurt Waldheim as president, whose wartime Wehrmacht unit had been involved in war crimes; and when, on the formation of the 2000 coalition, other EU member states imposed sanctions”
The second candidate on the left is Alexander Van der Bellen who hopes to maintain a left rule in Austria and shift the trend Europe is following.
Agora: Watching the World Turn 