Joerg Haider in historical perspective
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 07:56:20 EST
From: Robert Avery RAvery8297@aol.com
Lonnie Johnson's essay on the background to the present Austrian government is as fair, concise and elegantly written as one would expect from this distinguished observer of the Austrian scene. It should be required reading for everyone with an interest in the country. I would query only his description of the EU leaders' intervention as "unprecedented and unusual." It was of course unprecedented and unusual, but more than that, it was quite out of character for the EU leaders to have acted in quite such a firm, united and prompt manner.
The President of Austria, Thomas Klestil, appears to have personally asked the leaders of the other EU countries to make a public protest against the proposed government. The EU objections enabled Dr Klestil to veto the two least acceptable ministerial appointments and force both party leaders to sign in public a humiliating commitment to democracy.
This intervention by the President was widely reported in the European press. Joerg Haider in his _Pressestunde_ interview apparently suggested the President should be arraigned for _Hochverrat_ - high treason. I understand the intervention is being denied, while the President's office insists the _Volkspartei_ and its leader were fully aware of what would be the EU reaction to the inclusion of the Haider party.
The unprecedented actions of the EU states and the precipitate boycott by many private individuals and institutions can only be understood as showing support for the 73% of the Austrian voters and their President who did not want Haider's party to be in government and to the large proportion of those who find the coalition unacceptable.
Robert Avery