AfD conference blockaded, Austria’s Nazi FPO opposed by 50,000, while 10,000 Lisbon marchers defend migrants

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The far right threat continues to grow across Europe, but so too is the resistance, as reports from Austria, Germany and Portugal show. Broad-based united fronts that oppose the far right on the streets and combat their lies and hate speech can push them back.

As the dangers of a return to the horrors of the 1930s loom large there is a growing realisation internationally of the need to take action to block the fascists, and not let them get away with trying to blaming immigrants for the cost of living crisis and other economic and social problems.

Austria

The Conservative People’s Party (OVP) which said it would not work with the fascist Freedom Party (FPO) is now gifting the position of chancellor to them. The FPO was set up by Waffen SS members and is open about its Nazi roots.

FPO leader Herbert Kickl wants to start the mass deportation Austrian citizen who has ‘foreign roots’, set up a register of ‘left-wing teachers’, ban the hijab and launch attacks women’s rights and trans people.

Austria is in a deep economic crisis and the EU has demanded budget cuts – migrants and those who don’t fit the FPO’s characterisation of ‘a true Austrian’ are being made the scapegoats for the economic failings.

50,000 mobilised on the streets to oppose the FPO, but this has to be the beginning of a much larger movement to reclaim the momentum from the far right.

Germany

At the weekend the the fascist-led Alternative for Germany held their conference at which they selected their leader Alice Weidel to be the AfD candidate for chancellor in the forthcoming election.

Weidel may not be a fascist but she is being used to provide a more acceptable face for the party’s Nazi project. She had previously distanced herself from the leader of the Nazi-wing of the party Bjoern Hoecke but has now dropped criticisms of him.

Everything didn’t go to plan for the fascists, whose conference was blockaded by thousands of anti-racists and anti-fascists. As a result, the conference started two hours late and was only able to go ahead after the police brutally attacked the peaceful anti-fascist demonstrators.

In the latest shocking outrage from the AfD fascists, flyers are circulating in Karlsruhe, south-west Germany, designed as ‘deportation tickets’ and sent to the lettweboxes of people identified by the party as ‘illegal migrants’.

The ‘tickets’ have a departure date coinciding with the parliamentary election on February 23. The departure and destination points are described as: “From: Germany – To: Safe Country of Origin”.

afd 'deportation tickets'

Portugal

Report by Andy and Ana Dalglish – Portugal..Lisbon. We marched to the area where immigrant workers were taken out of their houses and put up against the wall, arms raised onto the wall.

This caused a sizeable outrage from many culminating in a march supported by mainly left groups. As we gathered, we were met with a gang of far right thugs who attacked a demonstrator, but the police protected them.

The march was about 10,000. It was loud, angry, and good to see many migrant groups represented as well as left groups. It should be a spring board for future activity and organisation as fascist leader, AndrΓ© Ventura, Is standing for presidency in next year’s election.

Posters of the fascist Chega party are everywhere and a serious defacing campaign would be a good start. Worth noting that as some demonstrators tore down nazi posters that lined the route of the march, police intervened, defending the offensive filth.

No to Fortress Europe! Refugees and Migrants Welcome!

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