Austrian far-right leader brands Merkel ‘dangerous’

The head of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has branded Angela Merkel Europe’s most dangerous politician and says her migrant policy has paved the way for a possible civil war.

The comments came from Heinz-Christian Strache, in a speech delivered for the Austrian National Day that takes place on Wednesday 26th October.

Strache was speaking in front of hundreds of listeners in the Epstein Palace in Vienna where he not only spoke out against the red-black “stagnation coalition” government of the Conservatives and Social-Democrats which rules Austria, but also targeted German chancellor Angela Merkel.

He said that in his opinion Merkel’s migrant policy had been “criminal” and had provided an unrestrained influx of migrants which put the whole of Europe at risk.

Strache said: “She is the most dangerous politician in Europe. With her welcoming policy she opened the door for Islamists, poor immigrants and soldiers of fortune, whose worldview does not fit into modern Europe.”

He said that the move had been “pre-programmed” to fail and added that he would not even rule out civil war in Europe as a consequence.

He added: “There are people coming to us who do not even think about integrating. Ethnic and cultural external immigration should never have been allowed to exceed a certain limit.”

Strache has also criticised the European Union, although underlining at the same time that an Austrian exit from the EU was not an option for his party.

He said: “Criticism must be allowed in a peaceful Europe.”

In this context, the FPÖ party chief also mentioned CETA, the planned trade pact between the EU and Canada, saying that while Austria had agreed to it, the Walloons in Belgium had to be respected for refusing to go along.

Strache also criticised Turkey, calling the country not mature enough for membership in the European Union. He said: “Turkey’s accession seems unrealistic and unreasonable.”

At the end of the speech, Strache added support for his party colleague Norbert Hofer, who is running for president against Alexander Van der Bellen of the Green Party. “With Norbert Hofer there will be a young and active federal president, who will have the courage of his convictions and will be there for all the Austrians,” he said.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern criticised Strache’s speech, saying that his comments about a possible civil war were unpatriotic.

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