Austrian minister survives vote

Boehmdorfer (eft) has embarrassed Chancellor Schuessel's government

By Paul Brennan in Vienna

The Austrian justice minister has survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament.

The vote follows recent criticism of the right-wing minister and Freedom Party member in the European Union's report on the political climate in Austria.

Earlier this month the European Union lifted diplomatic sanctions that were imposed on the country seven months ago when the far-right Freedom Party entered the ruling coalition.

An EU panel of expert advisers had concluded that the sanctions were proving counter-productive.

Singled out

The report by the three-man EU panel found little fault with members of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party actually involved in government - with one exception.

The minister is seen as an attack dog for Joerg Haider

That was Justice Minister Dieter Boehmdorfer, whom the panel accused of making xenophobic statements and generally being an attack dog for the Freedom Party's strongman, Joerg Haider.

Even after EU sanctions were lifted, the controversy surrounding Mr Boehmdorfer refused to die down.

In recent days, the opposition has charged the justice minister with trying to silence any criticism of the Freedom Party's coalition with the conservative People's Party.

He was even accused of abusing his power after he called in the police to clear reporters from the area around his home.

Party voting

The vote of no-confidence was brought by the opposition Social Democrats and Greens and few had given it any chance of passing.

Indeed, the vote went strictly along party lines, with the two coalition partners using their majority to easily defeat the motion.

So Mr Boehmdorfer stays on as justice minister, but he and the Freedom Party in general are unlikely to enjoy any let-up in criticism from their many opponents.