Crucial test for Freedom Party

Mr Haider on the stump with Helene Partik Pable

By Bethany Bell in Vienna

The people of Vienna are voting in key municipal elections, with attention focused on the performance of the far-right Freedom Party.

A year ago the party scored its greatest triumph - entering the national government - to huge outcry both at home and abroad.

I think our election campaign was open and fair

Joerg Haider

But now it's down in the polls and has called on its fiery former leader, Joerg Haider, to help in a campaign widely seen as racist and xenophobic.

Mr Haider's anti-immigration message and calls against foreign drug dealers have been received with enthusiasm at rallies in the capital's working class districts.

Vienna's Social Democrat Mayor Michael Haeupl casts his vote

Ethiopian-born Tsahay Sintayahu, who is a candidate for the rival Social Democrats in Vienna, says he is very concerned by the Freedom Party campaign.

"I decided to stand because I couldn't put up with the racist posters and slogans carried out by the Freedom Party - things got worse because people who were already latently racist could manifest without any hang-ups," he says.

But Joerg Haider denies his party has been running a racist campaign in Vienna.

Anti-Haider feeling is running high

"It's always the same accusation during election campaigns - but there is no reason behind it because I think our election campaign was open and fair.

"And this campaign focused on the real problems of the people in Vienna, concerning the immigration question, concerning the housing problems. I think it is no racist background."

Hard times

It was concerns about the Freedom Party and Joerg Haider's attitudes to racism and the Third Reich which led to the huge international outcry last year when the far right party joined the national government.

Mr Haider himself stepped down as party leader at the height of the protests - to try and cool the controversy.

Anyone who thought Haider had disappeared - it's just not true

Journalist Christian Rainer

But without the charismatic Mr Haider at the helm, the party has fallen on hard times.

It lost in two recent regional elections and it's down in the polls in Vienna.

Journalist Christian Rainer says the party needs Mr Haider to win votes: "He is leading the trail now in Vienna and he will probably gain two or three percentage points just by appearing in Vienna.

"He is always the leading figure and anyone who thought Haider had disappeared - it's just not true."

Protests

The Freedom Party is hoping that the return of Mr Haider and his controversial campaigning will help restore some of the party's appeal as a protest movement.

A year in national government pushing through unpopular budget cuts has not proved popular with the Freedom Party's working class support base.

We will see on election day that the time of the Freedom Party is gone

Anti-Haider demonstrator

At rallies in the capital, it's Mr Haider, rather than the Freedom Party's main candidate in the city, Helene Partik Pable, who people want to see.

"I like Joerg Haider and Joerg Haider is a very good man and his politic is very good," one supporter told me.

But there are many Viennese who disagree.

Last week several thousand people gathered in central Vienna to protest against the Freedom Party campaign after controversial remarks by Mr Haider about the head of Vienna's Jewish community, Ariel Muzicant.

If the protesters have their way, the days of a strong Freedom Party in the city are numbered.

"Because the Freedom Party sees that it now is in a very, very difficult situation they make this very anti-semitic campaign just like a crazy guy who wants to do anything to come out of the problems," one demonstrator said.

"I think we will see on election day that the time of the Freedom Party is gone - and I see this demonstration as a means to stabilise the mood against the Freedom Party in the town."

Ramifications

A disastrous result for the Freedom Party in Vienna, though, could have a major impact on national politics.

Joerg Haider: Denies any wrongdoing

Christian Rainer says it could trigger Mr Haider's return as party leader:

"We could see a formal return of Haider if - I don't think it will happen - if the Freedom Party drops below 20% in Vienna.

"Then that would be a real crisis for the party and only in that situation Haider would come back as head of the party.

"It's not very likely and it's not necessary, since he is the important figure in the party anyway."

Latest polls put the Freedom Party at about 23% - down almost 5% on their result in the city last time round.

With the Social Democrats way in the lead, the party is not expected to join the city administration.

But failure to do well in Vienna could mean a stormy time ahead in the national coalition.