Thousands of Austrians protest far-right Freedom Party

As European and parliamentary elections draw near, Austria braces itself for a potential political earthquake.

Transcript

00:00 Thousands of people regularly demonstrate against the FPÖ in Austria. The far-right

00:07 party has led the polls for over a year. And now European elections and parliamentary elections

00:14 are approaching.

00:15 "This is the party that is most aggressive, that is increasing our democracy. We are the

00:22 homage against the right."

00:24 "We simply have to work together on a solution and not say 're-migration' and 'foreigners

00:31 out'."

00:32 "Cherished by many, elected by just as many. The FPÖ criticizes the rising cost of living

00:37 and the escalating violence on the streets of Vienna and protests against the government."

00:43 With an economy in the doldrums, the EU-skeptic Freedom Party is swamped with voters. This

00:50 has led to warnings that Europe must prepare itself for an isolated Austria.

00:57 "The FPÖ is much less enthusiastic about the war in Ukraine and is much more positive

01:04 about speaking about Orbán. That means that it would be a reorientation of Austria in

01:09 the international arena. But it also depends on what the partner parties of the FPÖ allow."

01:14 According to the polls, the FPÖ will win both the European elections in June and the

01:20 parliamentary elections in autumn. Austria's future chancellor will probably not be an

01:25 easy partner for Brussels.

01:27 (whooshing)