On the last weekend before the lockdown, the opponents of the measures mobilized in Austria!
The right-wing populist FPÖ has organized two demonstrations in Vienna, and right-wing extremists have also called for protests – 5,000 to 7,000 demonstrators are currently marching through the streets of the capital. The government even expects up to 15,000 participants. Demonstrators are even said to arrive from Germany.
Since 9 a.m., the FPÖ has been demonstrating on Human Rights Square against the lockdown imposed by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (52, ÖVP) and the mandatory vaccination for everyone announced for February. The second FPÖ rally started at 11 a.m. on the Jesuitenwiese. Events are registered until 8 p.m.
There are also said to be protests in the city park, where right-wing extremist Jennifer Klauninger and other lateral thinkers camp. In the end, however, everyone could meet at the FPÖ demonstration on the Jesuit meadow, the police estimate. A spokesman for BILD: “It shouldn’t really start until around noon.”
Several demonstrators have also come from GermanyPhoto: Florian Wieser / dpa
It remains to be seen whether the demos in Vienna will escalate like the protests in Rotterdam (Netherlands) against the 2G rule. There, on Saturday night, thousands of people rioted through the city center, set police cars on fire and pelted the officers with bottles, stones and firecrackers. The police had to shoot two people and dozen were injured.
In Vienna, the police are on duty with 1,300 officers from all over the country. “We are well positioned to prevent any escalation,” said a police spokesman on Saturday. “So far, she has had to repeatedly insist on compliance with the mask requirement. Instead of masks, many demonstrators have Austrian flags with them.
FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl (53) launched a verbal attack against lockdown and mandatory vaccination on Friday: “As of today, Austria is a dictatorship!” He rumbled.
► Spicy: Army soldiers also want to march in the FPÖ demonstration. Brigadier Johann Gaiswinkler (59) and Colonel Hermann Mitterer had called for participation in an “open letter”. Gaiswinkler, who describes himself in the letter as an “intelligence officer”, was suspended at the beginning of the year because he was wearing a T-shirt with quotes from a right-wing extremist poet.
The Federal Armed Forces Union FGÖ also supports the lateral thinker demos. However: According to “Standard”, the FGÖ is a mini-union from Burgenland, which is led by ex-FPÖ politician Martin Haidinger.