The presidential elections in Austria, where the independent pro-European politician Alexander Van der Bellen, 72, won, were full of surprises. For the first time since 1945, the office of the country’s president goes to the representative of a party other than Social Democratic and Conservative, Austria’s two largest political forces. Besides, Norbert Hofer, 45, an anti-European and pro-Russian member of a far right party, was close to becoming the head of state, when he ran ahead of the longtime Green Party leader Van der Bellen by a margin of 15 percent in the first round. The outcome of these elections was not clear until the postal ballots were counted – this kind of votes determined the winner for the first time in the history of presidential elections. The final count showed that Van der Bellen and Hofer had polled 50.3 and 49.7 percent of the votes, respectively.
AUSTRIANS “REJECTED POPULISM AND EXTREMISM”
It must be noted that Hofer immediately acknowledged his defeat and called on his followers “not to fall into despair.” Meanwhile, Van der Bellen said: “It is absolutely clear that we have a lot of work to do. Obviously, people can feel that they are not seen or heard. There are two sides of the same medal that forms Austria. So the daily challenge will be to bring the two different halves of Austria together.”
This result made many leading European politicians heave a sigh of relief. Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that all of Europe was now breathing more easily. Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls pointed out that it gave him a great pleasure to see the Austrians “reject populism and extremism.”
The European Green Party immediately welcomed Van der Bellen’s win, saying that “Europe’s values and our shared republican and democratic goals can be defended against insurgent right-wing populism.”
On its part, The Financial Times comments: “The Vienna election result shows how the politics of fear can run out of control.”
FIVE LESSONS OF THE ELECTIONS
The results of the Austrian elections prompted analysts to draw a number of conclusions.
According to politico.eu, firstly, “Europe’s postwar political establishment is crumbling. Above all, the Austrian result illustrates that the center-right and center-left parties that have dominated the Continent’s politics since World War II are in retreat.
Secondly, polarization is a new normal. The cozy days of polite political debate in Western Europe are over. The exchanges between Van der Bellen and Hofer were some of the most caustic in recent memory. Austria highlights a more troubling aspect of that trend: a widening class divide. While well-educated city dwellers supported Van der Bellen, low-earning rural and working class Austrians backed Hofer.
Thirdly, the wealthy aren’t immune to the pull of populists. By any objective measure, Austria counts as one of Europe’s, indeed the world’s, richest nations. Unemployment is low, compared to most EU countries, and growth is stable… Yet the Freedom Party managed to upend the current policy by claiming that Austria is headed in the wrong direction. Even if Austrians feel comfortable now, Islam, the EU, and the forces of globalization threaten to destroy their future, the party warned.
Fourthly, Europe’s liberals may be down, but they’re not out. Van der Bellen’s victory shows that when the chips are down, the Continent’s pro-EU, liberal forces can rally together and carry the day. In the run-off, Van der Bellen won 1.3 million more votes than in the first round, indicating that fear of a Freedom Party victory drove large numbers of conservative voters into his camp.
Fifthly, sincerity sells. Love them or hate them, a quality both candidates in the race shared was authenticity. Unlike the mainstream parties, which have waffled and reversed course on myriad issues, Van der Bellen and Hofer left little question about where they stood on the key topics of the day. Van der Bellen was unapologetic about his stance on welcoming refugees, his support for the EU and conviction that the Schengen treaty is a cornerstone of Europe’s stability. Hofer, meanwhile, spoke just as clearly about what he regards as the urgency to secure Austria’s borders and keep the EU from encroaching too much on Austria’s sovereignty.
SECOND “GREEN” PRESIDENT IN THE EU
Van der Bellen is the second head of an EU member state, representing the Green Party. The first is Raimonds Vejonis who was elected president of Latvia in June 2015.
Incidentally, Van der Bellen has Russian roots. His father was born in the Russian city of Pskov. After the October Revolution he moved to Estonia, where he met the future mother of Austria’s president-elect. When the Soviet Union annexed Estonia in 1940, the Van der Bellens emigrated to Austria, where the “green professor,” as the local press likes to call him, was born. This nickname is not accidental. Van der Bellen is a Doctor of Economics and has worked as professor of economics at Vienna University for almost 20 years.
What can Ukraine expect from the new president of Austria and what is his attitude to the Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine?
COMMENTARY
Oleksandr SHCHERBA, Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Vienna:
“Alexander Van der Bellen is a definitely pro-European politician. He belongs to the cohort of people for whom the EU and the European idea are a personal feeling and a shared value. He can be expected to position Austria as a European, humane, and not indifferent state. On the other hand, he shows a certain liking for Russia (the cult of Russian literature, etc.). He is also associated with the Baltic region (Estonia), where the Van der Bellen family found refuge from the Bolsheviks. The Estonians consider him ‘their own’ candidate. Van der Bellen’s attitude to Ukraine is not quite clear. He unequivocally condemns Russia’s actions in the Donbas, but Crimea is a ‘difficult question’ for him.
“As to whether to lift or to extend sanctions against Russia, he is so far taking a very cautious approach. But, in any case, decisions of this kind are beyond the president’s competence.”
