Austrian FPÖ councilor Fabian Walch joins far‑right Antaios publisher’s festival

Fabian Walch, a Freedom Party (FPÖ) municipal councilor from Innsbruck, attended the summer festival of the German Antaios publishing house, which is classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence as a secured far‑right organization. The event in Schnellroda also featured prominent extremist Martin Sellner and promoted a new book by former AfD politician Kurt Hättasch, who is under investigation for links to a militant neo‑Nazi group.

FPÖ officials described Walch’s trip as a private holiday, but Liste‑Fritz party official Andrea Haselwanter‑Schneider demanded a clear public break, saying, “If the FPÖ is serious about distancing itself from right‑wing extremists, then FPÖ chief Markus Abwerzger must act now.” The criticism stresses that public officials’ participation in extremist gatherings undermines trust in the party and crosses a red line of democratic responsibility.