Austria's Right Turn

The article analyzes the new Austrian government program formed by the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Green Party, arguing that despite the absence of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) in the governing coalition, the program reflects the FPÖ's political agenda. The program focuses heavily on issues of law and order, including increased surveillance, stricter immigration policies, and enhanced police powers. The government plans to expand video surveillance, including facial recognition technology, and increase the number of police officers. Immigration and asylum policies are set to become significantly more restrictive, aiming to deter asylum seekers and accelerate deportations. The article highlights the program's emphasis on national identity and security, which aligns with the FPÖ's nationalist rhetoric. Furthermore, the government intends to lower taxes for corporations and high-income earners, while introducing austerity measures in social programs. This economic policy is also seen as benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the working class. The analysis suggests that the ÖVP, under pressure from the FPÖ and seeking to maintain its voter base, has adopted elements of the far-right's platform, thus normalizing and legitimizing their agenda. The article concludes that the program represents a shift to the right in Austrian politics, even without direct FPÖ participation in the government. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/04/vlla-m04.html