Ukrainian activists demonstrate in Vienna against the coalition with the FPÖ

“There was no coalition with the FPÖ,” was the message from around 50 activists in front of the Federal Chancellor. “This pro-Putin party can only sell Austria to Putin.”

At a smaller gathering on “Defenders of Ukraine Day” on Tuesday evening, members of Vienna’s Ukrainian community demonstrated in the city center against the possible participation of the FPÖ in the government. At a stop in front of the Federal Chancellery and the Hofburg, around 50 Ukrainians chanted “No coalition with the FPÖ!” and “SpÖ better than FPÖ!” Representatives of the Ukrainian embassy in Austria were not present.

“In a coalition with the FPÖ there is no future for Austria or a peaceful and free Europe,” said activist Mychajlo Karioti from the Ukrainian association “Mrija” (“Dream”, note), who led the demonstration from Stephansplatz, on Ballhausplatz in the direction of the Federal Chancellor to Heldenplatz Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) called a coalition with democratic and pro-European forces. The focus should not be on the “FPÖ People’s Chancellor”, but on a “real chancellor” who will ensure Austria’s independence from “Moscow and Putin“protection too.

Free beer, free knife sharpening, five kilos of potatoes

Karioti also spoke to Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with similar requests and at the same time he lamented the electoral success of the FPÖ. Many voters in this party would have thought more about free beer, free knife sharpening or five kilos of potatoes, he said. He clearly reminded his comrades of past Ukrainian election campaigns, in which small gifts of food were especially used to attract votes from socially disadvantaged groups. “This pro-Putin party can only sell Austria to Putin,” he explained in German. Another activist spoke in Ukrainian about the fear that Austria could turn into another Slovakia or Hungary. There is a possibility of a coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, which would allow continued work.

During the last speeches at Heldenplatz there was also talk of populist right-wing parties who might decide to take Russian money and ask Ukraine to give up part of their territory​​​​ over to appease Vladimir Putin. However, the participants of the rally were convinced that the latter would not work. They were asked by the organizer Karioti to show their presence with Ukrainian flags at a demonstration announced for the next few days in Vienna.

Ukrainian activists in Austria had recently spoken out against the FPÖ in the last election campaign, which had been the only Austrian parliamentary party to refrain from displays of solidarity with Ukraine since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began in February 2022. Last week, “Mrija” spread a photo of an election campaign poster for the FPÖ main candidate on social networks Herbert Kicklwhich read “Putin shall be done” instead of “Your will be done.” Posters were actually posted in Vienna with a picture of a young girl asking them to vote “sensibly and responsibly for the future of our children” and say no to Putin’s friends. (APA)