Vienna — Hundreds of police sealed off part of central Vienna against protesters on Monday as Austria became the only western European country with a far-right party in power, but demonstrations against the swearing-in proved largely peaceful. The last time the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) entered government in Austria, demonstrations were so large that the cabinet took a tunnel from the chancellery to the swearing-in rites at the president’s office across the street. There was no need for that this time as, almost 18 years on and to a significantly more muted reaction, the country once again became an exception among its peers, but in a very different European political landscape. Protests nearby drew only a fraction of the tens of thousands who gathered in 2000 and criticism from across the continent has also been more restrained. "We will certainly not be going underground to the Hofburg, but rather with our heads held high in the street," FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strac...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.