The leaders of Austria's two far-right parties have hailed the results of snap general elections, which saw their support doubling since the 2006 polls.

 

The Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria took nearly 29% of the vote, preliminary results show.

 

The Social Democrats won the polls with 30%. But they, and the conservative People's Party, with 26%, suffered their worst results since 1945.

 

The shape of a possible coalition will now be hard to predict, experts say.

 

A total of 183 parliamentary seats were up for grabs in Sunday's election.

 

The early polls were called after the grand coalition between the Social Democrats and the People's Party collapsed this summer amid internal fights and personal feuds.

 

Whole story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7641441.stm

 

Should Europe be worried about this significant switch to far right political parties in Austria?

I would normally write this off as another Le Pen that ultimately means little, but with the current economic crisis could this really be history just repeating itself? :(

i think its as a result of imigration (yet again) showing that every country has little tolerance to 'outsiders'..

 

im sure every country desires to retain its nationality, why not?

The country that produced Adolph Hitler is at it again.... <_< History appears to be repeating itself.... Here in this country, we marginalise w/ankers like Nick Griffin, treat them with the contempt the deserve...... In Austria, they vote for the b/astards..... :rolleyes:

i think its as a result of imigration (yet again) showing that every country has little tolerance to 'outsiders'..

 

im sure every country desires to retain its nationality, why not?

 

That is really the most stupid thing I've ever heard.... You seem to actually be in favour of intolerance and xenophobia with this statement... Wasn't so long ago another bunch of "outsiders" were on the receiving end of right-wing, fascist politics - ie, the Jews in the 1930s/40s.... Most of these "immigrants" are actually fellow EU citizens Rob, with every right to move around the EU, as do you and I.... Retreating to right-wing, fascist politics seems natural to the Austrians if you ask me..... Aint the first time they've done it, not even the second time... Didn't they have a former SS Stormtrooper as their Prime Minister at one point in the 80s....? Yeah, great.... Nice "national identity" to have, you're okay so long as you're white and Aryan..... <_< The Austrians should be ashamed of themselves.... I bet they'd moan even if English, French or Irish people started living in their precious, homogenous society....