The report on right -wing extremism in Austria in 2023, taking into account 2020 to 2022, presented the former Minister of Justice Alma Zadić to the National Council a few weeks ago. The report was written by the documentation archive of the Austrian Resistance (DÖW) on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior. The MPs took in Justice Committee The majority of the report with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ, Neos and Greens. The FPÖ, on the other hand, considers the report to be “pseudo -scientific”, misleading and politically motivated and did not vote for knowledge. At the request of the Greens, matter should also be discussed in the upcoming National Council plenary.
Debate about the development of right -wing extremism in Austria
Justice Minister Anna Sporrer, who was available to the Justice Committee today, emphasized that it was necessary to act against any kind of extremism. The attack according to the prohibition law has more than tripled, the report can be found. Right -wing extremism is therefore no longer a marginal phenomenon in Austria. For example, the recently uncovered “hate crime network” shows the danger in this area. Sporrer pointed out that the government program of the triple coalition provides for a national action plan against right -wing extremism. When asked by the FPÖ, an expert from the Ministry made it clear that the report was drawn up on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior.
Johanna Jachs (ÖVP) emphasized that the ÖVP rejects any kind of extremism, also decides right -wing extremism. The fight, on the other hand, was written at the top of the agenda. This report is available for the first time in the high house and also makes sense to a certain extent. Wherever ideological tendencies hit, it was too wide from a certain point of view, said Jachs. She spoke out to observe all forms of extremism.
Muna Duzdar (SPÖ) described a tripling of the offenses under the prohibition law as frightening. You can no longer see this as a marginal phenomenon, Duzdar is a need for action. It is grateful that the conclusions drawn from this includes the development of a national action plan against right -wing extremism. The report shows data and facts and expresses, among other things, the networking of the groups, to a particularly high degree with the German scene, but also with other countries.
Stephanie Krisper (Neos) also emphasized that the coalition in the government program had agreed on a national action plan against right -wing extremism. In their view, in particular, attention must be paid to prevention, for example by education in order to counteract right -wing extremism as early as possible.
Alma Zadić (Greens) considers the present report as absolutely necessary. He would show an increase in right -wing extremists, as would show an increase in right -wing extremism. From the Greens’ point of view, it is important to discuss it, so the desire to discuss the report in the plenary was also provided.
Harald Stefan (FPÖ), on the other hand, criticized the report. It is “politically motivated” against the FPÖ, “pseudo -scientific” and “not impartial”. He also does not consider the “inflationary use” of the term right -wing extremism to be good. He also pointed out that the advertisements in this area would have increased, but not the convictions.
Increase in right -wing extremist crimes, but limited comparison option
In the report (III-126 d.B.) It is stated that there are a number of problems in terms of survey and preparation of the data that limits the meaningfulness of the numbers and the possibility more sensible over time. In principle, an increased number of right -wing extremist crimes can also have to do with other factors such as a changed legal situation or problem perception. Nevertheless, a secondary data analysis of state crime statistics shows that the number of right -wing extremist crimes has risen from 2020 to 2023.
Among other things, the report also provides a detailed presentation of the most diverse scene spectra and manifestations in the area of right -wing extremism in Austria. As far as the international perspective is concerned, the German scene, which has always been intertwined with Austrian right -wing extremism, has been a particularly high degree of exchange. But also for a number of other countries, interaction can be determined to a relevant extent.
With regard to right -wing extremists, the right -wing extremist magazine market (print and online) in Austria has developed very dynamically in Austria. In turn, digitization has led to the formation of new forms of a primarily based on media usability, a type of right-wing extremist influencer, “less frequent: influencer”, or to increase video games and gaming platforms to spread right-wing ideology.
The report also deals with the state repertoire of action to combat right -wing extremist “activities” in Austria and the processing of right -wing extremism from the perspective of the authorities. On the one hand, there are that specific problems in dealing with corresponding occurrences exist, and that on the other hand, a coordinated procedure or a continuous exchange between the various experts: inside is a prerequisite for a successful and constitutionally appropriate processing of the suspected cases.
Increase in anti -Semitic and antimusable incidents
As far as anti -Semitic and anti -Muslim incidents are concerned in Austria, they would be documented in their own reporting points. A strong increase will be shown in 2023, whereby the most important explanatory factor is named the social reaction to the terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023. In terms of content, the importance of the once central denial of the Holocaust has recently decreased, but the anti -Semitism has remained of concise importance. (Continued Justice Committee) MBU