Austria’s Rightward Shift Targets Immigration

By Louis van Boxel-Woolf

VIENNA – Enjoying a picnic with friends in a park after prayers at a mosque, 20-year-old Saima Arab, a pedicurist from Afghanistan, expresses gratitude for her freedoms in Austria. "We could never do this in Afghanistan—never cook, go out, or simply sit in public like this," said Arab, who came to Austria in 2017. "Home feels like a prison there."

However, many Austrians are concerned about the country’s ability to integrate migrants, particularly Muslims. The call for stricter immigration laws significantly influenced the recent election, which saw the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) achieve a historic victory.

Both the FPO and the ruling conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) campaigned on promises to tighten asylum laws and combat illegal immigration. The FPO’s win has intensified fears regarding the rise of far-right populism in Europe, following similar electoral gains by parties in Germany, France, and beyond.

"Regardless of the government formed after the election, I am confident it will focus on making asylum and immigration laws stricter," remarked Professor Walter Obwexer, a migration law advisor to the government, prior to the election.

Arab, who expressed a reluctance to discuss political matters, shared her hope of being able to vote in Austria someday. The population of individuals born abroad or with foreign parents in Austria has surged by more than a third since 2015, now representing around 27% of the country’s approximately 9 million residents.

In this election, the combined vote for the FPO and OVP surpassed 55%, making it likely that one of the two parties will lead the next government. This outcome raises expectations that Austria, like its neighbors Germany, Hungary, and France, will implement stricter immigration policies.

Immigration and inflation emerged as the primary concerns among voters. The perception that Austria is taking in migrants faster than it can accommodate them resonates even with some Muslims in the country. "I worry the system is on the verge of collapse," expressed Mehmet Ozay, a Turkish-born Austrian and supporter of the FPO, who argued that there are too many asylum seekers not contributing to the economy.

The FPO has combined its stern stance on immigration with criticism of Islam. The issue gained prominence last month when a teenager of North Macedonian descent was arrested for allegedly planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at a concert.

Running on the slogan "Fortress Austria," the FPO advocates for "remigration," proposing to send asylum seekers back to their countries if they do not integrate and seeking to limit asylum rights. This has raised concerns among some who feel the party, despite softening certain polarizing messages during the campaign, is fostering a negative narrative about foreigners.

The FPO has responded by asserting that asylum seekers burden public resources and highlights crimes committed by some individuals in this group. "The FPO often labels refugees and asylum seekers as criminals," said Hedy, a social worker who arrived in Austria as a refugee from Afghanistan. He refrained from using his last name and remarked, "A similar narrative was directed at Jews in Vienna before World War II," noting that the FPO’s agenda against "political Islam" could embolden xenophobic sentiments.

Despite its controversial history—its founding leader was a former Nazi lawmaker—the FPO has attempted to reposition itself. In 2019, the party supported legislation allowing descendants of Austrian victims of National Socialism to obtain citizenship. Recently, FPO leader Herbert Kickl denounced Adolf Hitler as "the biggest mass murderer in human history," during a televised debate, denouncing the Nazi legacy.

Nonetheless, Alon Ishay, head of the Austrian Association of Jewish Students, sees parallels between the contemporary targeting of Muslims and the historical treatment of Jews during the early Nazi era. "There are rhetorical similarities regarding deportation and stripping citizenship," he noted, emphasizing this sentiment before the recent election.

FPO supporter Ozay countered this perspective, suggesting that Muslims in Austria enjoy their freedoms. "If there were daily attacks by FPO voters, I would understand the fear of a more extreme agenda should Kickl come to power. But that’s simply not the case; it’s just fear fueled by other parties," he said.