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30. 12. 09. - 15:00

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30. 12. 09. - 15:00

BZÖ leaders claim FPK 'nervous' revolt might fail

By Thomas Hochwarter

BZÖ general secretary Stefan Petzner has said former BZÖ Carinthia leader Uwe Scheuch has shown signs of "insecurity" over cooperation plans with the FPÖ.

Petzner said today (Weds) he was still optimistic the two right-wing rivals would not unite at provincial level and in the federal parliament.

He claimed he had seen a "certain insecurity" with Uwe Scheuch who recently revealed the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) would cooperate with the Freedom Party (FPÖ) in the province of Carinthia.

Scheuch and FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache also announced they would set up a new delegation in the federal parliament formed by the BZÖ’s Carinthian MPs called "Die Freiheitlichen in Kärnten" or FPK.

Scheuch explained the Carinthian BZÖ would be called FPK from now on. Federal BZÖ leader Josef Bucher reacted by attacking Scheuch and Strache for having launched an "ice-cold revolt".

Political analysts said after the cooperation was announced that this could mean the end of the BZÖ as polls have shown much stronger support for the FPÖ in all Austrian provinces. Experts stressed the fact that the BZÖ depended on their powerful standing in Carinthia in all federal elections.

But there was some doubt over whether Scheuch and Strache would be able to form a sixth delegation in the federal parliament when its president warned she would carefully check such applications.

Social Democrat (SPÖ) Barbara Prammer explained she would keep a close eye on the possible foundation of the FPK delegation, stressing garnering subsidies must not be its main aim.

Federal parliament delegations receive at least one million Euros in state subsidies every year – but only if a new delegation represents policies significantly different from already existing delegations.

Political experts have said the parliamentary president could reject a foundation application since both Scheuch and FPÖ boss Strache have far-right policies.

BZÖ leader Josef Bucher said a petition launched in Carinthia asking BZÖ members whether they want to unite with the FPÖ at provincial level and join the FPK would go "very well".

BZÖ general secretary Stefan Petzner said he was optimistic the FPK would eventually not be set up after the federal parliament’s Christmas break since Maximilian Linder, Martin Strutz, Josef Jury – the three BZÖ MPs who signalled to join it – were as "insecure and nervous as Scheuch".

Petzner added at least five MPs were needed to form a delegation. The BZÖ – which was founded by late FPÖ leader Jörg Haider in 2005 – currently has 21 MPs.

BZÖ leader Josef Bucher meanwhile attacked the FPK for not having a "legal fundament". Bucher said he feared the planned provincial summit on 16 January would "go down undemocratically".

FPÖ Carinthia chief Harald Jannach said today it was too early to decide whether the FPÖ’s branch in the province would join the FPK.

Jannach said he would await the FPK’s summit before making any decisions.

The developments come days after Dorothea Haider, the mother of late right-wing icon Jörg Haider, claimed her son had never considered teaming up with the FPÖ again.

The 91-year-old told the Kronen Zeitung she hoped BZÖ chief Bucher managed to keep the BZÖ together and strong.

Austrian Times

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