Austrian Elections & Politics 4.0

[Tender Branson]

Susanne Wiesinger, a teacher for more than 30 years in Vienna, lifetime SPÖ-member and SPÖ teacher union representative, has come out with a 220-page book recently called "Culture wars in our classrooms: How radical Islam is changing our schools. Report from a teacher."

It should be noted that Wiesinger is teacher in one of some 150 Austrian so-called "hot-spot" schools, most of them in Vienna, which have a huge amount of children with migrant background. In Wiesinger's school, some 80% of kids are of Muslim origin, are recently arrived and mostly come from very conservative families. The other 20% are Austrian kids, but also often from a lower middle-class background.

She decided to "speak out" after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in 2015, which was when some of her (elementary and middle) school students glorified the attackers - which was a turning point for her and her long-standing liberal world view.



She also said that when she started as a teacher in Vienna over 30 years ago, the schools were mostly with Austrian kids and classes were going fine. Now, there are culture "wars" in classrooms and as one example she pointed to a young Muslim school girl who went to class once with a dotted colourful dress. Some other small Muslim boys harassed the girl and cut her dress because they found it "un-Islamic". Wiesinger found the girl crying in the toilet. She also said that while 30 years ago teachers were still teachers, now teachers in Vienna are mostly social workers who have to avoid religious and cultural "warfare" in classrooms. The children are the ones losing out because of that situation.

The whole interview yesterday with her was amazing. What a courageous woman. She's now an outcast in the SPÖ for speaking out (what everyone already knows) and calls herself a "homeless leftist" (like myself, btw).

https://www.addendum.org/schule/kinder-verloren

PS: she's not out "for the money", because the book earnings will go into a charity for integration efforts.

[windjammer]

Susanne Wiesinger, a teacher for more than 30 years in Vienna, lifetime SPÖ-member and SPÖ teacher union representative, has come out with a 220-page book recently called "Culture wars in our classrooms: How radical Islam is changing our schools. Report from a teacher."

It should be noted that Wiesinger is teacher in one of some 150 Austrian so-called "hot-spot" schools, most of them in Vienna, which have a huge amount of children with migrant background. In Wiesinger's school, some 80% of kids are of Muslim origin, are recently arrived and mostly come from very conservative families. The other 20% are Austrian kids, but also often from a lower middle-class background.

She decided to "speak out" after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in 2015, which was when some of her (elementary and middle) school students glorified the attackers - which was a turning point for her and her long-standing liberal world view.



She also said that when she started as a teacher in Vienna over 30 years ago, the schools were mostly with Austrian kids and classes were going fine. Now, there are culture "wars" in classrooms and as one example she pointed to a young Muslim school girl who went to class once with a dotted colourful dress. Some other small Muslim boys harassed the girl and cut her dress because they found it "un-Islamic". Wiesinger found the girl crying in the toilet. She also said that while 30 years ago teachers were still teachers, now teachers in Vienna are mostly social workers who have to avoid religious and cultural "warfare" in classrooms. The children are the ones losing out because of that situation.

The whole interview yesterday with her was amazing. What a courageous woman. She's now an outcast in the SPÖ for speaking out (what everyone already knows) and calls herself a "homeless leftist" (like myself, btw).

https://www.addendum.org/schule/kinder-verloren

PS: she's not out "for the money", because the book earnings will go into a charity for integration efforts.

Does she propose anything to deal with that?

[Tender Branson]

Today, the last ORF "summer interview" with party leaders took place with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz:



Kurz also did really well in that interview, just like the others (except Peter Pilz).

What I also noticed: a waitress brought a glass of water to the party leaders in each interview and Kurz was the only one of the 5 to thank the waitress for that.

[Tender Branson]

New IMAS poll for Upper Austria (which also has a ÖVP-FPÖ coalition on the state level). Poll was conducted between Aug. 20-30 among 800 people, aged 16+:

39-41% ÖVP (2015: 36.4%)
27-29% FPÖ (30.4%)
18-20% SPÖ (18.4%)
  8-10% Greens (10.3%)
    2-4% NEOS (3.5%)
    0-1% LiPi
    0-2% Others

ÖVP-FPÖ would still get between 66-70%, which is not much different from the 66.8% they got in the 2015 state election right after the migrant invasion into Austria.

Job approval rating of the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition:

78% approve (17% strongly, 61% somewhat)
19% disapprove (6% strongly, 13% somewhat)
  3% undecided

Job approval rating of Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP):

78% approve (27% strongly, 51% somewhat)
15% disapprove (5% strongly, 10% somewhat)
  7% undecided

IMAS also polled federal elections in Upper Austria:

30-32% ÖVP (2017: 31.5%)
27-29% SPÖ (27.6%)
26-28% FPÖ (26.9%)
    6-8% NEOS (4.8%)
    3-5% Greens (3.7%)
    0-2% LiPi (3.7%)
    1-3% Others (1.8%)

Upper Austria is interesting here, because the state usually votes like Austria as a whole in federal elections.

https://www.krone.at/1768739

[Tender Branson]

According to the Statistical Yearbook of Migration and Integration 2018, which was released today, Austria's religious composition is now as followed:

58% Catholic
  9% Orthodox
  8% Muslim
  3% Protestant
22% Other/None

https://derstandard.at/2000087224491-1231151927329/In-Oesterreich-leben-mehr-Orthodoxe-als-Muslime

The number of Orthodox, Muslim and Other/None is rising fast - while the Catholic and Protestant shares have dropped to record lows.

The numbers are only estimates, because the last Census on religious affiliation was held in 2001 and the religion question was scrapped later on.

[Tender Branson]

Another interesting part of the "Migration Yearbook 2018":

Birth and death rates as a whole were about even (10 vs. 9.5/100.000 people) last year and there was a birth surplus of about 4.400

Among Austrian citizens only, there was a death rate of 10.7 and a birth rate of only 9.4

Among foreigners in total, the birth rate was 13.0 vs. a death rate of 3.0

Among Afghan, Syrian and Iraqi immigrants only, the birth rate was 27.6 and the death rate just 0.7 - resulting in a natural growth rate of 2.7% - or a birth surplus of 2.800 people.

Even Turks, who are here for decades already, have a much higher fertility rate than other immigrants.



Left: the birth/death rates and surplus/deficit by citizenship
Right on top: the fertility rates by citizenship
Right at the bottom: age of first birth by citizenship

[Tender Branson]

The new, monthly poll for the political "Profil" magazine has the ÖVP-FPÖ government consolidating their support (n=800, Sept. 10-14):

34% ÖVP (n.c. compared with last month)
28% SPÖ (-1)
25% FPÖ (+2)
  7% NEOS (+2)
  4% Greens (n.c.)
  1% LiPi (-1)
  1% Others (-2)

ÖVP-FPÖ are now at 59%, which is +1.5% compared with the 2017 election.

Vote for Chancellor:

35% Kurz (ÖVP-Inc., +3)
21% Kern (SPÖ, -2)
12% Strache (FPÖ, -1)

https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20180915_OTS0005/profil-umfrage-kurz-legt-in-kanzlerfrage-deutlich-zu

[Tender Branson]

Pollster OGM's "trust" ratings in major Austrian politicians (balance of "have trust in this politician" minus "have no trust in this politician"):





https://www.ogm.at/apa-ogm-vertrauensindex-bundespolitikerinnen-wien-september-2018

[Tender Branson]

A new Upper Austria poll by Spectra has the ÖVP-FPÖ state coalition there in a dominant position, 3 years after the state election:

41% ÖVP (+5% compared with the 2015 state election)
29% FPÖ (-1)
17% SPÖ (-1)
  8% Greens (-2)
  4% NEOS (+1)
  1% Others

https://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/spezial/art194059,3007140

[Tender Branson]

A major judicial appointment is creating controversy right now:

Hubert Keyl, an FPÖ apointee to the Federal Administrative Court, is being criticized for calling Austrian conscientious WW2 objector Franz Jägerstätter a "traitor" several years ago in an editorial of a far-right newspaper.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

He wrote: "A Wehrmacht dodger is a traitor and should be properly sentenced and not beatified."

He's also a friend of convicted Neo-Nazi Gottfried Küssel.

https://twitter.com/doew_at/status/1040646608017346561

https://derstandard.at/2000087411275/Appelle-an-van-der-Bellen-um-Richterkandidat-Keyl-zu-verhindern

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/weiter-aufregung-um-ernennung-des-freiheitlichen-keyl-zum-bvwg-richter/400119119

SPÖ+Greens+List Pilz and NEOS are all very critical about the appointment and asked President Van der Bellen to intervene. VdB has the power to block him as a judge.

I agree that a guy like Keyl should not serve in this position, even though he now argues that "he distances himself from all forms of National-Socialism". I would also like the ÖVP to speak out on this issue.

[Omega21]

A major judicial appointment is creating controversy right now:

Hubert Keyl, an FPÖ apointee to the Federal Administrative Court, is being criticized for calling Austrian conscientious WW2 objector Franz Jägerstätter a "traitor" several years ago in an editorial of a far-right newspaper.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

He wrote: "A Wehrmacht dodger is a traitor and should be properly sentenced and not beatified."

He's also a friend of convicted Neo-Nazi Gottfried Küssel.

https://twitter.com/doew_at/status/1040646608017346561

https://derstandard.at/2000087411275/Appelle-an-van-der-Bellen-um-Richterkandidat-Keyl-zu-verhindern

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/weiter-aufregung-um-ernennung-des-freiheitlichen-keyl-zum-bvwg-richter/400119119

SPÖ+Greens+List Pilz and NEOS are all very critical about the appointment and asked President Van der Bellen to intervene. VdB has the power to block him as a judge.

I agree that a guy like Keyl should not serve in this position, even though he now argues that "he distances himself from all forms of National-Socialism". I would also like the ÖVP to speak out on this issue.

Definitely should not be allowed to serve as a Judge.

Also, do you think some of these loonies would move to a NPD party if it existed in Austria?

The FPO definitely need to find a way to weed out all of the Nazi sympathists, at least the ones who were public about it.

[Tender Branson]

Keyl has retracted his candidacy today, after the ÖVP also became critical yesterday.

Good.

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Kern is probably retiring from politics.

[Tender Branson]

BREAKING NEWS:


Former Chancellor and current Social Democratic Party leader Christian Kern to retire in 45 minutes.



https://derstandard.at/jetzt/livebericht/2000087598905/spoe-chef-christian-kern-tritt-zurueck

It is likely that his successor will be a woman (Pamela Rendi-Wagner or Doris Bures).

[Tender Branson]

Hahaha.

Kern will become lead candidate for the SPÖ in the EU parliament elections and steps down as Austrian SPÖ-leader afterwards ...

[Tender Branson]

The SPÖ-Governors of Vienna, Carinthia and the soon-to-be Governor of Burgenland have all said they will not become the next federal SPÖ leader.

Also, Doris Bures has declined to take over the party today.

There's a big desire in the SPÖ that a woman should take over the party, leaving Rendi-Wagner in the pole position. Either her, or some dark horse.

Also, the SPÖ October convention has been delayed to November 24-25 - where the new party leader will be elected - together with the EU list.

[Tender Branson]

Nazi/Racism alert from a local FPÖ-branch !

The FPÖ in the city of Vöcklamarkt (Upper Austria, ca. 5.000 people) has posted on Facebook a blonde girl standing in a field with the heading: "Protect your race, it's the blood of your ancestors."



The FPÖ-leader in the town had to step down and leave the party today because of it.

https://orf.at/stories/3024621

[Tender Branson]

The SPÖ-Governors of Vienna, Carinthia and the soon-to-be Governor of Burgenland have all said they will not become the next federal SPÖ leader.

Also, Doris Bures has declined to take over the party today.

There's a big desire in the SPÖ that a woman should take over the party, leaving Rendi-Wagner in the pole position. Either her, or some dark horse.

Also, the SPÖ October convention has been delayed to November 24-25 - where the new party leader will be elected - together with the EU list.

Updates:

The SPÖ has agreed to find a new party leader by October 15.

The SPÖ has also apologized to their voters for the Kern resignation and the bad media turmoil surrounding it.

The Vienna SPÖ and the Burgenland SPÖ (where they have the Governors) are still trying to convince Doris Bures into running for party leader (she ruled it out already).

The Carinthia SPÖ and Governor Kaiser (who had a stunning state election victory this year) have endorsed Pamela Rendi-Wagner.

But there's also the chance that neither of the 2 women could end up being the new party leader. It could also be an experienced man, like the unionists Wolfgang Katzian or Josef Muchitsch - which would also make sense, considering ÖVP-FPÖ's attacks on workers recently.

http://www.heute.at/politik/news/story/Kaiser-empfiehlt-Rendi-Wagner-als-Kern-Nachfolge-59960674

[DavidB.]

Wew lad

[Tender Branson]

It's official:

Pamela Rendi-Wagner (47) will succeed Christian Kern and become the new SPÖ-leader. That was quick. The Vienna-SPÖ and unions and all other major state SPÖs came out to support her today. Rendi-Wagner represents the more left-progressive wing in the SPÖ.



https://kurier.at/politik/inland/klare-signale-rendi-wagner-gilt-fix-als-neue-spoe-chefin/400124864

A fairly interesting point is that Rendi-Wagner lived several years in Israel and was a professor there, speaks fluent Hebrew and one of her kids was born there.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Tender Branson]

In other news, the liberal NEOS-leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger announced today that she's pregnant with her 3rd child, which will arrive in April.

She'll just take 1 month of paid maternal leave, while her partner will take 1 year paid paternal leave.

https://www.sn.at/politik/innenpolitik/neos-chefin-beate-meinl-reisinger-erwartet-ihr-drittes-kind-40348735

[Tender Branson]

It's official:

Pamela Rendi-Wagner (47) will succeed Christian Kern and become the new SPÖ-leader. That was quick. The Vienna-SPÖ and unions and all other major state SPÖs came out to support her today. Rendi-Wagner represents the more left-progressive wing in the SPÖ.

The last APA/OGM "trust index" of SPÖVP politicians from October 2017 showed that Pamela Rendi-Wagner was almost as popular as Sebastian Kurz at the time ...

[Tender Branson]

It's official:

Pamela Rendi-Wagner (47) will succeed Christian Kern and become the new SPÖ-leader.

2022 campaign slogan ?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Tender Branson]

New Ö24 poll, conducted the last few days, right during the media reporting about Kern's resignation as SPÖ-party leader and his run for EU parliament:



(These numbers don't mean anything, because the SPÖ will rise again when Pamela Rendi-Wagner takes over in November).

EU elections (with Kern):

28% SPÖ
28% ÖVP
24% FPÖ
  9% NEOS
  5% Greens
  1% LiPi
  5% Others

https://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/1-Umfrage-Absturz-fuer-SPOe-auf-24/349452450

[Omega21]

Wew lad

Oh my...

Very lengthy list indeed, a party-wide Nazi purge is definitely overdue.

Do things like these happen in the Netherlands' right-wing parties?