Jewish groups: Narrow loss for Austrian far-right is wake-up call

23 May 2016, 8:11 pm

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European Jewish groups say that while they are relieved at the loss by a far-right candidate in Austria’s presidential elections, it is a wake-up call for Europe’s centrist parties.

“While we are certainly satisfied with the result, there is little room to celebrate the high level of support for someone with such extremist views as Norbert Hofer,” says European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor. “Unfortunately, the dissatisfaction with the moderate mainstream parties is providing oxygen to those like Hofer” and the Austrian Freedom Party.

“We are seeing signs of these trends across Europe, so it is incumbent on the more centrist parties to use this as a wake-up call and listen to the grievances of the people,” he says.

— JTA