The right wing anti-EU factions who want to see the European Union disintegrate received a rude shock recently, which however, largely went unnoticed.
In an interview with Russia’s RT, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) presidential candidate Norbert Hoefner said that Austria will not leave the EU, if Turkey did not join it. His concern was the free movement of people from outside of Europe, which would have become easier if Turkey joins the bloc. Austria, Hoefner said, would contribute to create a better Europe.
A somewhat different approach was expressed by FPÖ representative Barbara Kappel in an interview with Russia’s Izvestia newspaper. She said Austria should consider greater autonomy within the EU and if the EU was not prepared to consider the concerns, Austria should hold a referendum to leave.
What the FPÖ envisages as a better Europe is in stark contradiction to what Angela Merkel or Francoise Hollande would envisage. Nevertheless, the FPÖ’s position is opposite to the position of the United Kingdom Independent Party and some other right wing groups. The UKIP and some other parties are not content to merely see their countries leave the EU. They want the EU to disappear too
Despite the seemingly different opinions within the FPÖ, one thing is crystal clear. The FPÖ still wants Austria to be a part of Europe and EU. There is no talk of the disintegration of the EU, given that "things do not become unbearable."
One must remember this fact clearly. Brexit was not a vote against the EU or for the dissolution of the EU. It was a vote for the strengthening of the UK. Only a minority of the British electorate, namely the supporters of ultra-rightist groups and staunch UKIP members, supports the destruction of the EU. Others, irrespective of whether they voted to remain or leave, want to see the EU remain as a viable entity.
Fears were raised on June 24 after several far right parties across Europe expressed jubilation at the result of the EU referendum in the UK and called for similar votes in their respective countries. The then UKIP leader Nigel Farage expressed belief that the EU would collapse. However, as the dust settled down and the EU leaders mustered their resolve, the threat of a sudden collapse disappeared. Furthermore, the immediate repercussions of Brexit also scared off some people, perhaps even within parties such as the FPÖ.
At this point, France, Denmark and the Netherlands hold the key to the future of EU since the far right parties in these countries are popular and are seeking referenda in their countries on the EU membership. The EU will hold off a Brexit, but it will have a hard time in dealing with a Daxit, Nexit and especially a Frexit.
In an interview with Russia’s RT, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) presidential candidate Norbert Hoefner said that Austria will not leave the EU, if Turkey did not join it. His concern was the free movement of people from outside of Europe, which would have become easier if Turkey joins the bloc. Austria, Hoefner said, would contribute to create a better Europe.
A somewhat different approach was expressed by FPÖ representative Barbara Kappel in an interview with Russia’s Izvestia newspaper. She said Austria should consider greater autonomy within the EU and if the EU was not prepared to consider the concerns, Austria should hold a referendum to leave.
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| Pic: FPÖ |
What the FPÖ envisages as a better Europe is in stark contradiction to what Angela Merkel or Francoise Hollande would envisage. Nevertheless, the FPÖ’s position is opposite to the position of the United Kingdom Independent Party and some other right wing groups. The UKIP and some other parties are not content to merely see their countries leave the EU. They want the EU to disappear too
Despite the seemingly different opinions within the FPÖ, one thing is crystal clear. The FPÖ still wants Austria to be a part of Europe and EU. There is no talk of the disintegration of the EU, given that "things do not become unbearable."
One must remember this fact clearly. Brexit was not a vote against the EU or for the dissolution of the EU. It was a vote for the strengthening of the UK. Only a minority of the British electorate, namely the supporters of ultra-rightist groups and staunch UKIP members, supports the destruction of the EU. Others, irrespective of whether they voted to remain or leave, want to see the EU remain as a viable entity.
Fears were raised on June 24 after several far right parties across Europe expressed jubilation at the result of the EU referendum in the UK and called for similar votes in their respective countries. The then UKIP leader Nigel Farage expressed belief that the EU would collapse. However, as the dust settled down and the EU leaders mustered their resolve, the threat of a sudden collapse disappeared. Furthermore, the immediate repercussions of Brexit also scared off some people, perhaps even within parties such as the FPÖ.
At this point, France, Denmark and the Netherlands hold the key to the future of EU since the far right parties in these countries are popular and are seeking referenda in their countries on the EU membership. The EU will hold off a Brexit, but it will have a hard time in dealing with a Daxit, Nexit and especially a Frexit.
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