02. 09. 10. - 14:15

Strache hits out at 'centralist' EU

Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has attacked the European Union (EU) for being a "centralist" association.

The right-wing politician said today (Thurs): "We want a federalist Europe, not a centralist one."

Strache has previously criticised EU decision-makers for financially backing struggling member Greece. He has also attacked the Austrian government for contributing around 2.3 billion Euros to the international rescue and support bid for Greece.

Strache became federal leader of the FPÖ five years ago after former party boss Jörg Haider – who died in 2008 – set up the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ). All then FPÖ ministers followed Haider and joined the new right-wing party. Both factions suffered losses in subsequent elections, but the FPÖ recuperated significantly faster than the BZÖ.

Strache’s party is expected to increase its share in upcoming provincial elections in Styria (26 September, 4.6 per cent in 2005) and Vienna (10 October, 14.8 per cent in 2005).

Its Styrian branch has caused outcry by setting up an online shooting game targeting mosques and muezzins, while Strache – who also heads the FPÖ’s Viennese department – said he considered suggestions for more mosques featuring minarets "disconcerting".

FPÖ General Secretary Harald Vilimsky has been criticised for calling mosques "hotbeds of radical Islam".