ÖVP criticizes FPÖ over alleged far-right ties and migration

Ernst Gödl, the ÖVP club chairman and security spokesperson, has criticized the FPÖ for failing to address alleged connections to the far-right Identitarian movement. Gödl stated that while the federal government under Chancellor Christian Stocker is taking responsibility for security, integration, and migration, the FPÖ remains silent on its purported anti-democratic ties.

Regarding migration, Gödl highlighted that Austria has achieved negative net migration for the first time in over 20 years. Data shows that 2,794 people with asylum status left the country, while 2,260 asylum applications were filed. Additionally, 8,856 individuals were deported within the first seven months of the year. Gödl credited Interior Minister Gerhard Karner’s asylum policies for these developments.