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 The BBC's Angus Roxburgh in Vienna"Another Haider bombshell for the Austrians"  real 28k  |
Haider resignation fails to impress
Mr Haider will not be turning his back on politics
The European Union has said there will be no immediate restoration of normal relations with Austria following Joerg Haider's resignation as leader of the far-right Freedom Party.
Austria's EU partners froze diplomatic ties with Vienna after the Freedom Party became junior partner in the country's new coalition government three weeks ago.
Austria's EU partners froze diplomatic ties with Vienna after the Freedom Party became junior partner in the country's new coalition government three weeks ago.
This is not a withdrawal from politics. Instead, we are reassessing the leadership relations anew  |
Joerg Haider
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Current EU president Portugal said the key question was not the personality of Mr Haider, but the nature of his party.
Earlier, the United States welcomed Mr Haider's decision as a step in the right direction.
But State Department spokesman James Rubin said: "This doesn't change our concerns the Freedom Party itself is still part of the government."
Israel, which reacted strongly to the Freedom Party's inclusion in view of past remarks by Mr Haider that appeared to understate Nazi crimes, said it would not send its ambassador back to Austria.
Earlier, the United States welcomed Mr Haider's decision as a step in the right direction.
But State Department spokesman James Rubin said: "This doesn't change our concerns the Freedom Party itself is still part of the government."
Israel, which reacted strongly to the Freedom Party's inclusion in view of past remarks by Mr Haider that appeared to understate Nazi crimes, said it would not send its ambassador back to Austria.
The key
question is not the personality of Haider. It is the nature of
his party |
Portuguese Government
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Mr Haider told a meeting of the party leadership in Vienna on Monday night that he did not want to stand in the way of the work of the new government.
The BBC correspondent in Vienna, Angus Roxburgh, says the move could help Mr Haider in his ambition to become chancellor of Austria, by allowing him to claim credit if things go well, and to distance himself from them if they go badly.
The resignation has been widely greeted in Austria as a tactical move.
No puppets
Speaking at a news conference after the announcement, Mr Haider said he wanted to dispel the impression that the six members of his party who are ministers in the government would be his puppets.
He said that he wanted to concentrate on his post as provincial governor of Carinthia, but that he was not running away from national politics.
The BBC correspondent in Vienna, Angus Roxburgh, says the move could help Mr Haider in his ambition to become chancellor of Austria, by allowing him to claim credit if things go well, and to distance himself from them if they go badly.
The resignation has been widely greeted in Austria as a tactical move.
No puppets
Speaking at a news conference after the announcement, Mr Haider said he wanted to dispel the impression that the six members of his party who are ministers in the government would be his puppets.
He said that he wanted to concentrate on his post as provincial governor of Carinthia, but that he was not running away from national politics.
Joerg Haider |
7 Mar 1999 Haider re-elected governor of Carinthia
3 Oct 1999 Freedom Party wins 27% of vote in national elections
21 Jan 2000 Coalition talks between Social Democrats and People's Party break down
27 Jan 2000 People's Party opens talks with Freedom Party
4 Feb 2000 Freedom Party enters government for first time
28 Feb 2000 Haider resigns as Freedom Party leader
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"This is not a withdrawal from politics. Instead, we are reassessing the leadership relations anew. And thereby we are also proving that we are capable of establishing a new
leadership in the Freedom Party," he said.
Mr Haider will be replaced as party leader by Susanne Riess-Passer, who is vice-chancellor in the new centre-right government that came to power on 4 February.
Since then, Austria has been subjected to a barrage of international criticism.
European Union countries downgraded diplomatic ties and froze bilateral political contacts with Vienna. Israel cut off diplomatic relations, while the United States expressed dismay and withdrew its ambassador for consultations.
Euro MP and Freedom Party member Peter Sichrovsky told the BBC that the resignation did not come as a surprise, and was not a result of the international criticism directed at Mr Haider.
First hints
He said the Freedom Party leader first indicated his intention to step down on Saturday.
"He has the right to do that, because he has achieved a lot. If that is his decision, we must all respect it and support him" Mr Sichrovsky told national television.
Mr Haider will be replaced as party leader by Susanne Riess-Passer, who is vice-chancellor in the new centre-right government that came to power on 4 February.
Since then, Austria has been subjected to a barrage of international criticism.
European Union countries downgraded diplomatic ties and froze bilateral political contacts with Vienna. Israel cut off diplomatic relations, while the United States expressed dismay and withdrew its ambassador for consultations.
Euro MP and Freedom Party member Peter Sichrovsky told the BBC that the resignation did not come as a surprise, and was not a result of the international criticism directed at Mr Haider.
First hints
He said the Freedom Party leader first indicated his intention to step down on Saturday.
"He has the right to do that, because he has achieved a lot. If that is his decision, we must all respect it and support him" Mr Sichrovsky told national television.
 Mr Haider has led the Freedom Party since 1986
|
Although Mr Haider did not take up any government post when the Freedom Party and the conservative People's Party formed their coalition, Austria has been politically isolated since the new government took power.
The international outcry was prompted, in part, by controversial remarks by Mr Haider in which he played down the crimes of the Nazis.
He has apologised for these on several occasions.
The daily Kurier newspaper wrote in an editorial in its Tuesday edition that coalition leaders admitted in private that the situation could not continue as it was.
"They're looking at ways out: if Haider resigns as Freedom Party head, foreign critics have fewer reasons to attack," it said.
The international outcry was prompted, in part, by controversial remarks by Mr Haider in which he played down the crimes of the Nazis.
He has apologised for these on several occasions.
The daily Kurier newspaper wrote in an editorial in its Tuesday edition that coalition leaders admitted in private that the situation could not continue as it was.
"They're looking at ways out: if Haider resigns as Freedom Party head, foreign critics have fewer reasons to attack," it said.
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