THE
RISE OF THE RIGHT IN AUSTRIA COULD BE A POLITICAL TIPPING POINT
On October 2nd, a presidential
election in AUSTRIA could mark the tipping point of changing political tides in
EUROPE and usher in a cycle of right-wing politics.
Recently, AUSTRIA’S
Constitutional Court ruled that the results of May’s presidential runoff
election were overturned. The Court referred to irregularities in vote
counting, which necessitated a re-run. With immigration quickly becoming one of
the most important issues for EUROPEAN states, this election could set the
precedent for upcoming elections in EUROPE.
Having previously lost by a mere
0.6 percent, NORBERT HOFER of the far right Freedom Party (FPO) stands a good
chance of becoming the first far-right head of state in the EUROPEAN UNION.
What to expect from a Western democracy led by a far-right president in the
21st century?
DEMOCRACY
ENABLES THE RISE OF THE RIGHT
While the recent BREXIT was a
clear example of a right-wing outcome to a democratic election, the upcoming AUSTRIAN
election may be the tipping point towards a EUROPEAN rightist era.
Politics
run in cycles, and the previous cycle of left-leaning governments in EUROPE and
the AMERICAS appear to be coming to an end.
Fears of immigration,
underperforming economies, and a growing sense of disillusion with
international governmental organizations is taking hold. With national
elections scheduled throughout this year and the next, the political scene may
begin to portray new priorities among the populaces.
This will not be a top-down
hostile take-over by right-wing party leaders. As Brexit showed, the push came
from an active voter bloc. The same will hold true for AUSTRIA’S election in
October.
The Constitutional Court’s
decision to hold a repeat of the presidential election is widely regarded as
the right decision from a legal point of view. This type of repeat election is
unprecedented in WESTERN democracies, but when the court found that 14 out of
20 of the constituencies under investigation had irregularities in vote-counting,
it was clear that the results of the May election were compromised. The fact
that the election was decided by 30,863 votes demonstrates that any claim of
vote irregularities had to be taken seriously by the court, or risk allowing a
failure of democracy.
The Constitutional Court did its
duty by calling for a repeat election, even as it assured AUSTRIA another round
of contested presidential elections. Democracy, it can be said, was served as
the judicial branch of government worked to guarantee a third opportunity for
the AUSTRIAN people to be heard.
While many observers worry that
this third round will favor Mr. HOFER, it is difficult to say that this
advantage was won in an undemocratic manner. As BREXIT shows, while the result
may not be what was expected or favored, it is what the voters wanted. The
tides are turning in EUROPE, and that is all a supporter of democracy today may
ask for.
WILL
THE FAR-RIGHT DAMAGE DEMOCRACY?
Serious concerns exist that
far-right politicians elected to positions of leadership will damage the
democratic institutions, which brought them to power. This would run counter to
claims that democracy begets more democracy, but it is not unprecedented.
In EUROPE, a safety net exists in
the high level of interconnection among states. There is a general sense
that should a government step too far, the EUROPEAN UNION will intercede at
some point. This can be seen in POLAND currently, and this is likely to
continue should a far-right party come to power in any EUROPEAN state. While by
no means a guarantee, it is probable that the election of a far-right leader
would not lead to a decrease in democratic freedoms among the populace, due to
this safety net.
Domestic politics are
increasingly important as globalization brings the world closer together. AUSTRIA’S
upcoming election, no matter the outcome, will be projected onto future
elections, particularly the US presidential election in November. The growing
trend towards right-wing policies may be a temporary blip on the political radar,
or it may be the beginning of a new political cycle.
