@packard or @Aurora What's up with Austrian elections? I hear it's intresting but would like a first hand account.
Ah yes, Austria just elected the anti-immigrant Millennial. Does he want to build an Austrian Wall to keep the muzzies out?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-41627586 At least he is a realist about what motivated the welfare seeking migrants and it sure as shit wasn't because they were refugees.
Had to laugh that Theresa May is going to try and kick Brexit talks on today. Think this'll be ahead of that on the EU's to-do list. Hopefully Aurora can illuminate more, but reads to me like there are a few things going on. Firstly is the rise of the Presidential leader, Kurz is just the latest to make themselves the product, not the party. Vote for me, not us. Seems to work well for many, so not something that's going away any time soon, although if Europe is going to go through an era of Blair clones, it'll be a surprise if there anything left but scorched earth afterwards. Then there's a bit of politicking going on, maybe Aurora can expand, but reads to me like Kurz is gambling on the Social Democrats being more willing to let his push policy through than to let the Far Right in government. If they call his bluff, he then risks the reputational damage from allowing the Far Right a seat at the table, so quite a poker game between the two. It also revives the ghosts of nationalism that never went away, the EUs handling of the migrants issue was never very sure, and the relying on Turkey and Greece to save the EUs blushes is less of a policy and more of a prayer. The major problem, as ever, is the failure to integrate. Which is a curious thing, most European nations have a history of cheerfully enforcing their culture in other nations at sword- and gun-point, even today the French interfere in their old colonies and many will happily turn a blind eye to resource exploitation, but develop a shyness when it comes to tackling integration with non-violent measures in their own backyards. I believe most Europeans are fine with helping refugees and recognise the benefits of economic migrants, they just get royally pissed off at being made to feel like interlopers in their own countries.
Yes, we'll very likely get a child chancellor of 31 years who ran on an anti-immigrant platform. BUT: could have come worse. This was the campaign. His party's DNA is not at all xenophobic. It's one of the two big old parties we have here, the conservative ÖVP. The results (which are quite strange) allow for four types of government: Either a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ), which is unlikely because they hate each other and were locked in a coalition for 24 of the past 30 years. Then, a coalition with the rabidly racist, xenophobic, cleptocratic and very ironically named Freedom Party (FPÖ). Which is more likely; however, those populists will want hardline immigration policies. I don't think most of the ÖVP can go along with what they'll demand. Another mathematical possibility is the Social Democrats and the FPÖ which would probably tear the SPÖ apart. Their voters would see such an abomination as treason to social democratic ideals and they'd be right. Then there's the possibility of a minority government which has to look for majorities on every decision. It's inherently unstable and has only been tried once before. The fifth and most unlikely possibility is that nobody can agree with anyone on anything. Which means reelections in spring or early summer. Me, I'm hoping for an ÖVP/FPÖ coalition. This is as right wing as possible here. BUT... and that's the only good thing about it... once in power, the FPÖ tends to implode within two years. We had the exact same situation in 1986 and 1999. Actual responsibility destroys those fascist fucktards in no time. It's usually extremely expensive to the beat of billions missing but keeping them down for a decade is worth it.
You are by far closer than any American last I knew, and you once lived in Munich. The likliehood of you knowing people who have an interest is greater than Americans.
