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🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Austrian state security sees closer ties between far-right FPÖ and Identitarians

From Der Standard · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Austria's state security agency has identified an increasing connection between the far-right Identitarian movement and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).
  • The agency views the hiring of current and former Identitarian members by the FPÖ as evidence of lowering barriers to cooperation.
  • This assessment suggests a growing willingness for collaboration between the Identitarian movement and FPÖ political decision-makers.

Austria's domestic intelligence agency, the State Protection and Counter-Terrorism Directorate (DSN), has identified a strengthening of ties between the far-right Identitarian movement and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

According to a recent assessment by the DSN, the employment of individuals who are current or former members of the Identitarian movement within the FPÖ is seen as a significant indicator. This practice suggests that the threshold for cooperation between the "far-right fringe organization" and "party-political decision-makers" is decreasing.

The DSN's findings highlight a potentially closer working relationship between these two groups. The Identitarian movement, often described as a far-right extremist organization, and the FPÖ, a prominent right-wing populist party, appear to be increasing their interactions.

This development raises concerns about the influence of extremist ideologies within mainstream politics. The agency's assessment implies a growing comfort level and reduced hesitation in collaborating between the FPÖ and the Identitarian movement, potentially impacting the political landscape in Austria.

The employment of former and current members of the organization at the Freedom Party is seen as an 'indicator' that the threshold for cooperation between the 'far-right fringe organization' and 'party-political decision-makers' is lowering.

— DSN assessmentDescribing the evidence for closer ties between the FPÖ and the Identitarian movement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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