VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0053 0131144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131144Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4011
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS VIENNA 000053 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: RIGHTWING LEADER BASHES OPPONENTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS 
IN NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS 
 
REF: VIENNA 27 
 
¶1. (U) Heinz-Christian Strache, head of Austria's rightwing Freedom 
Party (FPO), blasted the ruling Social Democrats (SPO) and People's 
Party (OVP) while calling for the deportation of lawbreaking asylum 
seekers during a January 10 rally launching the party's campaign for 
the citywide elections in October. 
 
¶2. (U) Like a pop star, Strache burst onto the stage through a paper 
wall to the strains of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" blaring from the 
loudspeakers.  The crowd of about 2,500 included people of various 
ages and socio-economic backgrounds.  However, there were more 
teenagers and 20-somethings than we have seen at most events held by 
the other parties (the voting age in Austria is 16).  Many of the 
young people were members of various party-affiliated youth and 
student organizations, reflecting the party's success with Austrian 
youth.  There was also a large amount of beer being consumed, 
noteworthy given that the event took place on a Sunday at 9 a.m. 
 
¶3. (U) Strache, the most youthful and telegenic of Austria's 
politicians, delivered a speech that was rousing at first, but began 
to drag as it continued for over 90 minutes.  The FPO leader made 
bold predictions for the coming year, promising gains in the 
provincial elections in Styria and Burgenland, as well as Vienna. 
He depicted the Vienna election as a head-to-head contest between 
him and incumbent Mayor Haupl, whom, he said, had "failed in 
everything he has attempted."  He called the long-dominant SPO 
organization in Vienna "a bunch of dinosaurs" ripe for defeat.  The 
FPO leader was more restrained in his comments regarding the April 
25 presidential election, promising only to nominate a candidate to 
run against heavily favored SPO incumbent Heinz Fischer.  None of 
the major parties has so far named a candidate to compete against 
Fischer. 
 
¶4. (U) Though the content of the speech was standard FPO material, 
the audience was nonetheless enthusiastic and sometimes raucous. 
Flag waving and overt displays of patriotism are generally frowned 
on in Austria, but FPO events are an exception.  The convention hall 
was strewn with Austrian flags and symbols.  Immediately following 
Strache's speech, supporters sang the national anthem followed by a 
chant of "Austria, Austria, Austria." 
 
Comment: Restrained, but Not Reformed 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) While Strache took shots at all the familiar FPO targets, 
including foreigners and Muslims, his language was more restrained 
than in past speeches.  We have noticed that the FPO's new campaign 
posters are also more subtle - slogans like "The West in Christian 
Hands," and "End Islamization" have been replaced with calls for 
"immigration reform."  An FPO contact told us party leaders are 
confident that the FPO's recent success indicates that their message 
has gotten across, and they no longer need to use harsh rhetoric to 
get attention. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Strache is not likely to be elected mayor of Vienna - even 
FPO contacts acknowledge that they expect Haupl to place first.  But 
the FPO may finish a strong second and deprive the SPO of its 
absolute majority in the province, bolstering its image as a party 
on the rise. 
 
Eacho