i applaud the Austrians

william MacAlpine , toronto, canada

I dont seethis as rascism. I see it as a desparate look at where their country is heading (& most of Europe for that matter) - & Austrians are horrified. Its simplistic to say that that millions of people are "right wing"...Islam has in built antagonism toward the west. This is blowback

Tony , Brisbane , Australia

Some facts:

-only 48% of the Turks in Austria between the age of 15 and 64 are working
-81% of the Turks in Austria are unskilled workers
-in Vienna, every second child has foreign parents, countrywide every third

Austrian people voted against the disastrous policy.

Bert, Salzburg, Austria

This kind of vote result could happen here in the UK. It is a reaction against the perceived discrimination against White/Christian people in Europe by the so-called 'Politically Correct' in the name of multiculturalism. The UK BNP maybe small but growing. The Austrian vote is a warning.

Howard, London, UK

I am - once again - ashamed for my fellow Austrian citizens. People at Strache's event showed the Hitler salute. And Jörg Haider is known to be a wolf in sheep's clothing (playing statesmanlike).
Austria never really came to terms with it's past, and that is showing now.

christian, Innsbruck, Austria

While the Austrian Green(horn) party is labelling all voters of the two right-winged parties in Austria as Nazis, they themself stir up hate against Austrians, Germans and Americans. This is what I call "green racism", "left racism" or "political correct racism". Unfortunately, this is not illegal.

Max, Linz, Austria

I have to say that I did not vote for haider or strache but I have a full understand for people who did.
Normally this two parties have 10 percent together.
This result happens because of different circumstances. There are also many immigrants who vote for them!!!
foreign medias tend to overstate

manfred, Neunkirchen, Austria

Its not the far-right that gained momentum in Austrias elections - its FEAR.
And Mr.Strache and his fellow populists all over the EU are harvesters and amplifiers of it. Their outdated mindset of "Us" against an imaginary "Other" leads the way to hatred, immobility and decrepitude - not the Future

Roman, Vienna, Austria

Hopefully this reaction is only the begining and more European national parties start to change European politics. The liberal parties are destroying centuries of European history in just a couple of years. The imposition of islam in Europe must be fougth.

Fernando, Madrid, Spain

Does anyone wonder??? The ever- expanding EU with Turkish membership may be the reason why some EU citizens turn to parties who refuse what some eurocrats in Bxl have tried to push thru despite 3 NO votes in 3 years!!! I don't approve of the far-right but I understand why some people turn to them.

pascal-pierre, Dinan, EU(france)

So much for freedom to choose who you want to vote for. Because they didn't vote for those who you wanted, then they are surely stupid and bigoted. Of course. Maybe they are sick and tired of being trampled on. And obviously we have the Far Right, but the Socialists are mainstream

Amy, Malta,

Some people tend to mix up everything . I don't think the EU is responsible for what happens in Austria. I believe Europeans are fed up with the decisions taken ( Turkey, enlargement etc...) and the citizens are getting aware of the fact that if the EU should work it can only work with Europeans.

pascal-pierre, Dinan, EU(france)

My word the EUSSR and the Yanks won't like this vote.
Do we presume they will have to have another election.

Elizabeth, Herts, England

It's unfortunate that the rise of the far right is needed to tell the leftists and the EU that the people will not stand idle while they railroad us into some distorted liberal utopian disaster.
Thats the problem with the EU, they like democracy when it favours them. It's a CIA plot when it doesn't

Phill , The Wirral, England

You can never be " far " right; right is right, just as the left is " sinister"; they are " far " left or sinister. Communism is not potrayed accurately as the " greatest cause of human suffering and death when contrasted with any other political system !

Warren O'Leary, Tecumseh, U.S.A.

How many Turks wear a Burkha, the anti-immigartion bandwagon in Austria is an anti-Turkish movement. Peter (Berlin) anti EU in Britain does not mean anti Black, Muslim, Indian, Czech whatever but is does in Austria! Some things never change Volk ohne Lebensraum

T Andre, London,

It's funny how we all seem to profess a belief in democracy but then castigate people for not voting exactly as we would. At least 'far-x' parties aren't all just mirror images of each other like most modern 'moderate' parties are.

Mark Johnson, London, UK

'...(Far) Right supporters, some of whom were jackbooted skinheads'

...and most of whom were probably fairly reasonable people pushed to the 'extremes' by centrist parties who simply do not listen to nor represent the views of the majority of the people.

Exactly the same is hapening in the UK.

DanOxford, Oxford, England

"Jack-booted skinheads", "extremist", "Far-right" - these labels are becoming quite tedious and child-like. You can't be so "Far" right with nearly a third of the vote, you're mainstream - get it? The "extremists" are those liberal-left governments who don't allow referendums. Short hair, so what?

Paul Williams, London, England

Please note that this probably is not a vote FOR the program of Strache or Haider but AGAINST the horrible waste of money that the previous governments burdned on the tax payer. Austria's government spending has doubled since 1990 (including inflation tripled). A very embarrassed Austrian.

Thomas, Vienna,

If the Austrians want their country returned and the excesses of the Eu rolled back that is their affair. Hystericaly lInking this entirely reasonable aspiration to the re- emergence of 1930s style Nazism is an example of just why the Austrians are not alone in their wishes. Good luck to them.

D.L. Stephens, York, England

Anti-EU sentiments in Britain is... british

anti-EU sentiments in Austria is... NAZI

Peter, Berlin, Germany

The problem with the EU legislation is it is too big for most people to understand so an easy target for populistic politicians. I hope nationalism doesn't rise because if Europe falls into war at this economic crisis because China and Russia will have a field day with us after we're done.

Andrej, Ljubljana, Slovenia

"Jackbooted skinheads" - come off it. If you want to go around in a burka, that's your privilege; likewise if I want to get my head shaved and wear jackboots. But the burka brigade are "multicultural". I'm a "fascist".

padraig, rochdale,

The problem is, that with the downfall of economic optimism, the right wing comes out to play.

Unfortunately, the neo-nazis don't need much encouragement to air their hateful views.

leila, manchester, uk

This is democracy in action. If the EU or other countries again criticize or sanction Austria it confirms they are hypocrites and dictatorial.

andy, London,

Its awful to see concerns about the government of the EU being exploited. Mass immigration to Europe (to Britain in particular) is a problem, but one to be solved with common sense, understanding and thought, not bigotry, ignorance and intolerance.

(Doesn't 'Hammel(fleisch)' mean mutton?)

Lydia, London, UK

The article forgets to mention that the Austrian Social Democratic Party, hich got the most votes (albeit loosing many), also ran this campaign on an anti-EU ticket, after having ensured the support of the largest newspaper, "Kronenzeitung", the Austrian equivalent of "The Sun"...

Adrian, London, UK

Now that is a surprise, Austria is only known for being Adolf Hitler's birthplace, Josef Fritz's vile playground and Natascha Kampusch's terrifying ordeal. Their actions have ceased to amaze me.

Gabriel, Dublin, Ireland

This is the result of excessive immigration & failure to integrate (affecting the whole of Europe) + the bullying tactics of the EUSSR. We don't want the Superstate the EUSSR is building. We want countries participating in a common market . Ignore us & the Far Right will benefit across Europe.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

In 2001 the far right trend was stopped after they were having governmental responsibility for 2 years. Having them in a coalition would again lead to their break-down, because both right parties do actually consist of 1 Person each, there is nothing behind them. Everyone would see them fail again

MD, Vienna, AT

How ironic if Austria were the first to escape out of the Anschluss

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

Maybe these people aren't 'anti-immigrant' - rather 'anti discrimintation against men and white people' as many are in this country. Simply anti discrimination - which then requires their concscience to vote anything but Labour in the next election due to the feminist bigotry of Harman & co.

Nick, London, England

Propaganda clouds judgement.

With three roughly equal blocks, the politics is divided symmetrically around the centre; ie the People’s Party.

If it is right to call the Freedom Party & the Alliance for the Future of Austria Far Right, we must call the Social Democrats Far Left! Ditto England?

Malcolm, Fairford, England

If we dont stand up for our selfs one thing we have learnt is that our goverments wont, they can no longer be counted on they care more about making rich incomptent bankers richer than us.

MR Jones, Liverpool, England

How predictable that the Austrians should resort to their neo-Nazi, xenophobic roots. First it was Hitler and the Jews, now it is Strache and the Muslims. Will Austrians ever stop hating?

Anton, London, UK

EU citizens concerns about immigration are real and legitimate. One hopes the EU-crats have learnt enough about freedom since 2000 not to try and impose sanctions on Austria again for daring to vote against the EU machine in this "democracy" of ours.

Simon , London, UK

It's a plein shame - but withouit any charismatic politicians like Bruno Kreisky or Franz Vranitzky in the past the "center-parties" SPÖ and ÖVP will loose frome election to election. Jörg Haider (BZÖ) or Van der Bellen (Greens) would be the right persons - but unfortunately in the wrong parties!

H. Anders, Vienna, Austria

The return of the far Right parties was just the expected result here in Austria. Unfortunately it was the logical consequence of a disastrous government - the democrats broke almost every campaign pledge they've promised. There won't be a new coalition between the (former) big parties. Shame on us!

Stefan, Graz, Austria

Well said Luke, names like fascist , do not help, all people want is their country back !
At last they are waking up & seeing the damage governments have done to their countries, multiculturism does NOT WORK with muslims who refuse to integrate.
The EU is the new Gestapo stop it now.
VIVA FREEDOM

maggie millington, brittany, france

This result is less of an endorsement of far right policies than a growing revulsion of ordinary people with the "cosy arrangement" that Elke from Prague his pointed out.

Besides, many topics raised by right appear to the outsider quite similar to those championed by the conservatives in the UK

otto, Stuttgart, Germany

'some of whom were jackbooted skinheads'
What's your point here ? surely judging people on their appearance has been outlawed by Political Correctness, people are free to wear what they please, such as a hood, or a full burka or boots and a short haircut.
And like it or not, this was a free vote.

Stiv, London,

The reference to roast mutton has probably been mis-translated. It probably refers to roasting a whole sheep as there is no specific word in German for mutton.

Alan, Geneva,

Hmmm…I never thought women in burqas looked like Ninjas. Nice one. Are they not children’s hero out there?

Tetsu, Tokyo, Japan

It really makes me sad to see all these commentators rejoicing for the victory of a deliberately fascist party in a european country. You people are full of fear and hatred which, as we know, always lead to fascism.

Horace, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

An excellent, inspiring result for Austria and the rest of Europe. The days of consensus politics are over. Austria has been ruled by a cosy arrangement between socialists and Christian democrats since 1945. The old elites have failed. New politics is required with less emphasis on the EU.

Elke Steger, Prague, Czech R

It is too bad the LePen did not rise to power in France. Europe is doomed if it does not wake up. It is time for the EU to disintegrate and the elitest bankers who run it to be thrown out of power!!! We are losing our culture and eventually our government and land.

Tom, Birmingham, UK

"true Australian"...everyone who is not Aborigine is an illegal immigrant.

"Cultural disintrigation.... in the USA" what culture if not native American

t Andre, London,

What's wrong with mutton, and why is roasting it in council flats somehow Islamic? I like mutton, Prince Charles likes mutton, and neither of us plans to bring about the collapse of western civilisation through the consumption of older sheep. Just another example of ludicrous politicians...

John Scott, London,

Notwithstanding the legitimate concerns many of the Austrians probably have about cultural disintegration, between what is happening in Austria, Bavaria and the United States, we seem to be entering a new period of political instability.

We know from history that such periods can be dangerous.

Brian, Oregon, USA

Well done Austria!. Now we only require the rest of the West to awaken. May the forces of reason shelter you from the lies and propaganda that will shower down upon you. This is what has happened in Australia every time a true Australian has gained any political power.

Luke, Port Macquarie, Australia