Foreign press complains about denied access to FPÖ election party

Numerous members of the Association of Foreign Press in Vienna reported “that they were denied accreditation for the FPÖ election party on Sunday evening as part of the European elections,” according to an open letter from the association to FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, which was made available to the APA. The FPÖ pointed to the limited space available.

• Also read: Election campaign for Europe: From agitators, poll kings and side effects [OÖNplus]

“Over a dozen representatives of renowned international media have been turned down despite some of them making very early requests,” write association president Ivo Mijnssen and vice president Cathrin Kahlweit in an open letter.

The rejection decisions were “different”: “First, some were told that they were on the waiting list because Austrian media had priority. Others were told that there was no room left or that if the FPÖ accepted all requests, only journalists would be in the room. Finally, it was said that this was an event for national media only.”

“Preferential treatment of the Austrian press”

The “favoring of the Austrian press” obviously corresponds to “an official policy of the Freedom Party, since its representatives were admitted in almost all cases,” the letter continues. “Such arguments from a leading party are irritating and unprofessional, especially since they follow a pattern of total refusal to talk to the international press. This attitude is an unprecedented and unique violation of the right to information within the EU.”

• Video: Speech by Herbert Kickl

The Foreign Press Association has “repeatedly” expressed its interest in meetings with the FPÖ and is doing so again here. “We call on you to reverse your decision and allow foreign media to inform your tens of millions of readers, listeners and viewers.” This should be “a matter of course” for a party that aspires to represent Austria internationally in a government one day.

A spokesman for the FPÖ told APA that it was a closed event for which the media had the opportunity to obtain accreditation. He referred to the limited space available in the party venue (Vino Wien) – the FPÖ had given the quota to “domestic media”, which had priority.

Blue conclusion as prelude to National Council election

Little Europe, lots of Austria – the FPÖ continued its campaign line consistently at its closing event at the Viktor Adler market in Vienna. The Blues did try to get their fans to vote in the EU elections, but the main topic was the National Council elections in the autumn, for which Kickl was campaigning in the working-class district of Favoriten. There were also demonstrations against the Freedom Party on Friday afternoon, and stink bombs were thrown again.

• Video: FPÖ election campaign ends

It was not top candidate Harald Vilimsky, but party leader Herbert Kickl who was the first to be greeted euphorically by his voters upon his arrival. And it was not Gigi D’Agostino’s abused track “L’Amour toujours” that was heard, but the John Otti Band with “We are a big family”. “And now he’s here, Dad,” Kickl greeted the visitors at the Viktor Adler Market, before launching into a tirade against the EU, but above all against the domestic political competition.

“An era of the People’s Chancellor”

Kickl also called for “an era of the people’s chancellorship” at the actual event for the EU elections. The EU elections were only the first step, the second would be the National Council elections in the autumn. “Then the way will be clear for a change for the better, for the positive.” As usual, there was derision for the ÖVP, which even prominent party figures such as Wolfgang Sobotka and Karoline Edtstadler were running away from. The same goes for the SPÖ, which only now wants to deport people to Afghanistan.

But the “elites” in the EU also need to be taught a lesson, said Kickl, turning to Europe for a few moments to draw a historical comparison: “What the heretics were in the Middle Ages are the EU critics today.” Before returning to the national fortress: “Austria should be an island of bliss for its own people, as it once was in the 70s and 80s.”

Counter-demonstrators were “lucky pigs”

But Kickl was not the only one calling for people not to skip the EU elections; Vilimsky himself also mobilized the blue fans one last time. Nevertheless, the leading candidate also mainly raised domestic concerns. While years ago the Viktor Adler market still sold sausages and meat loaf, today you can only find Dürum, kebab “and whatever else that stuff is called.” He described the counter-demonstrators as lucky pigs for his party and called on them to “squeak a little!”

Vilimsky’s speech was also less subtle in other respects, which was well received. For example, his message to Islamists who threatened the country: “Shove your caliphate somewhere else!” “We are taking our Austria back,” he said once again before the national anthem was sung – and the event was then concluded with the FPÖ anthem “Immer wieder Österreich” by the John Otti Band.