Surging Austrian populist right blasts gov't for following EU economic policies | Eastern NC Now

Austria's populist / nationalist right anti-immigration Freedom Party has been the top political party in the country in recent polls, riding high on its demand for aggressive steps against illegal immigration.  It is pulling significant votes away from the nationally governing traditional conservative Austrian Peoples Party, as it did in a big way in last week's regional election in Lower Austria.

Now the Freedom Party is expanding its attack to economic issues, blasting the Peoples Party led national government for following the "catastrophic economic policies" advocated by the European Union.  In particular, the Freedom Party is opposing the EU's climate policies that have greatly driven up Austrian utility rates.  It is also reminding voters that it was the only party to stand up strongly against the draconian Covid lockdowns and vaccine mandates of the government.

True to its populist beliefs, the party proposes that since sanctions against other countries impact Austria's own economy, they should be submitted to a referendum of the people instead of imposed just by the government.

https://rmx.news/austria/high-flying-austrian-fpo-launches-full-on-assault-on-catastrophic-economic-policies-from-government-wedded-to-brussels/

The Austrian Peoples Party reached its high water mark under its previous hard right leader, Sebastian Kurz, who sent the Austrian army backed by armored vehicles to the border to stop illegal aliens from crossing and as his very first act as Chancellor publicly told the EU leadership that Austria would not obey the migrant quotas that the EU was then on the cusp of imposing, stopping that whole misguided program in its tracks.  The current Peoples Party leaders are munchkins compared to Kurz and it is showing as their voters flock to the Freedom Party.