As of early autumn, the FPÖ’s political statements and actions began to resemble those of the state where the party had previously been involved in a huge political scandal — Ibiza-Gate (Ibiza-Affäre).
Let us recall the main events and circumstances. In the late spring of 2019, two authoritative publications from neighboring Germany published compromising videos featuring the leaders of the Austrian far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which was part of the government coalition. At this point, the FPÖ is already widely known for its pro-Russian sentiments and actions. Its members do not hide their friendly attitude towards Putin, and Karin Kneissl, the FPÖ’s quota foreign minister, boasted about Russian President Putin’s presence at her wedding.
And now, in a video released by the media, we see FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strachey, the vice chancellor and the second person in the country after the head of government. Strache is seen in a relaxed atmosphere negotiating with a wealthy Russian woman and discussing cooperation with her with his deputy. The Russian woman introduced herself as the niece of a Russian oligarch and, accordingly, his representative. He promises to repay Russian financial and media support with government contracts and political influence.
“If russians bring us to the top, we can talk about everything!”
The investigation revealed that the meeting occurred two and a half months before the Austrian parliamentary elections. The scene was a rented villa in Ibiza, Spain. There were five people in the room: Strache (then the leader of the parliamentary opposition); his right-hand man Johann Gudenus (who became the head of the Freedom Party faction after the election); Gudenus’s wife; and a wealthy Russian woman and her assistant translator: Strache resigned, and the chancellor announced the collapse of the coalition and early elections, which the far-right went to with huge image losses and expectedly lost.
And now parliamentary elections are being held in Austria again. And the FPÖ is going to get third or even second place, with its pro-Russian manifestos and plans. Will we see a new Russian series of Ibiza-Affäre in a month?
