Austria

A research study conducted by the Institute for Empirical Social Research and commissioned by the Austrian parliament has found that antisemitism is on the rise in the country, with 15 per cent of respondents showing severe antisemitic attitudes such as denying the Holocaust. More than a third of respondents believed that Jews tried to “take advantage” of the Nazi era and that they have “too much power in international business”. Austrian governments have continuously tried to address the issue due to the country’s Nazi past as an integral part of the Third Reich.

Austrian president, former leader of Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen has secured a second six-year term with more than 50 per cent of the vote and without going to a runoff. This result differs from the 2016 election when Van der Bellen only won by a narrow margin against his far-right rival Norbert Hofer. Despite the role being generally ceremonial, the president has sweeping powers during transition periods or crisis. Van der Bellen won on a slogan of “clarity” and “stability” following his reputation of leading in a steady and calm manner, particularly during political crisis. The voter turnout was 65.2 per cent.

Elections Alexander Van der Bellen