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BZ� leaders claim FPK 'nervous' revolt might fail

By Thomas Hochwarter

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

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 (BZ�) would cooperate with the Freedom Party (FP�) in the province of Carinthia.

Scheuch and FP� boss Heinz-Christian Strache also announced they would set up a new delegation in the federal parliament formed by the BZ֒s Carinthian MPs called "Die Freiheitlichen in K�rnten" or FPK.

Scheuch explained the Carinthian BZ� would be called FPK from now on. Federal BZ� 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 BZ� as polls have shown much stronger support for the FP� in all Austrian provinces. Experts stressed the fact that the BZ� 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 (SP�) 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 FP� boss Strache have far-right policies.

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

BZ� 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 BZ� 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 BZ� � which was founded by late FP� leader J�rg Haider in 2005 � currently has 21 MPs.

BZ� 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".

FP� Carinthia chief Harald Jannach said today it was too early to decide whether the FP֒s 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 J�rg Haider, claimed her son had never considered teaming up with the FP� again.

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

Austrian Times

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having president Petzner launched foundation Carinthia subsidies applications Haider delegation summit least Bucher Josef leader Experts policies Scheuch parliament Strache

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