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06. 03. 09. - 10:00

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06. 03. 09. - 10:00

Start taking post-Haider Carinthia seriously!

Comment by Thomas Hochwarter

The Austrian and the international media explained the BZÖ’s success in last Sunday’s provincial election in Carinthia by arguing people had voted in commemoration of deceased FPÖ and BZÖ leader Jörg Haider. However, it is about time to realise that cannot be the only reason for the party’s convincing triumph.

It is amazing that anyone who takes himself seriously can believe winning 45 per cent of the vote can occur because the still mourning population of the southern province voted as they did only because popular Jörg Haider had governed it before he died in a car crash in October last year.

It’s about time to admit that, despite Haider’s massive popularity resembling that of a saint, there must be other reasons for the outcome of the election. So-called quality newspapers should acknowledge that people might be satisfied with the ruling party’s work – from recently-increased subsidies for young families to the introduction of discount petrol stations when fuel prices were soaring.

Needless to say, most of those achievements have been attributed to Haider himself, and it remains to be seen how the party will cope with the population’s huge expectations. But explaining an election result in the way the national and international press has done is just unbelievably naïve.

Austrian Times

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