Across Europe the far Right have been gaining a foothold in elections both national and local. One country that might have been thought likely to be more resistant to their blandishments is Austria, given its history. After the Second World War it sought to portray itself as a victim of Nazism rather than an enthusiastic supporter.
De-Nazification sought to remove the far Right’s influence from politics, though the revelation in 1986 that former UN general secretary Kurt Waldheim had been an active Nazi did not stop him being elected president of Austria. It did, however, mean he was barred from the United States and was the subject of controversy until he stepped down in 1992. Many Austrians felt he had been traduced.
At the weekend, a far-Right party came top of the polls in a national election for the first time since 1945. The Freedom Party (FPÖ) won nearly 29 per cent of the vote, almost three points ahead of the Conservatives but well short of a majority.
As in France and the Netherlands, where far-Right winners have been frozen out of power by mainstream politicians, none of the other parties in Austria will work with the FPÖ, and especially its leader, Herbert Kickl.
As has been seen elsewhere in Europe, there is a generational shift taking place. Older voters have shunned the FPÖ, with the bulk of its support coming from those aged 35-59.
Once again, immigration proved to be the biggest issue, with Mr Kickl promising to build a “fortress Austria”, which will bring him into conflict with the EU if he eventually forms a government. Mainstream parties must start responding to what voters are saying about immigration if they are to stop further success for the populist Right.