October 22, 2017 17 News & Analysis East West More than half of Austrians vote for anti-immigration party

Mahmud el-Shafey

London

ith more than 50% of Austria’s elec- torate voting for a right-wing, anti-im- migration party, the Wtide of nativist politics appears to be rising in Europe. “This is our time for real change,” Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old head of the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) said following the party’s electoral victory October 15. “There is much to do. It’s time for a new political style, time to create a new political culture.” For the European Union, Kurz’s “new” political style and culture are nothing new. “[This] is the lat- est manifestation of the right-ward shift in European politics and the consequence of adjustments con- servative politicians are making to attract a wider base,” Adham Sahl- oul, a programme assistant with the Religion, Identity and Human Rights Project at the Atlantic Coun- cil, said in an article for the think- tank’s website. Preliminary results indicate Kurz’s right-wing OVP finishing with 31.5% of the vote, ahead of the Rightward shift. Leader of Austrian People’s Party (OVP) Sebastian Kurz speaks to supporters in Vienna, on October 15. (AFP) left-wing Social Democratic Party (SPO), which came second with 26.9%, and the far-right Freedom routes to Europe, cap benefit pay- campaign, both parties increased stopped” was one of its slogans. The FPO pledged to deny migrants Party of Austria (FPO) third with ments to refugees and bar immi- their share of the vote. Kurz also sought to exploit such access to welfare payments alto- 26%. Kurz is expected to become grants from receiving benefits until This rise of right-wing voices is a fears, pledging a ban on “Muslim gether,” said Berlin-based political chancellor as head of a right-wing they have lived in Austria for five response to the influx of hundreds kindergartens” and to combat what analyst Paul Hockenos on CNN. coalition government. years. of thousands of immigrants and ref- he described as a “parallel commu- Austrian Muslims expressed con- Kurz, who was Europe’s young- “Kurz appealed to far-right voters ugees, mostly from the Middle East, nity” of Muslims in Austria — a term cern about the vote result but called est foreign minister when he was by co-opting core issues that were in recent years. The FPO, in particu- he used frequently during the cam- for patience. “I’m concerned but appointed in 2013, took over the part of the FPO’s platform — migra- lar, has stoked fears about Muslims paign. not afraid,” Omar al-Rawi, a Bagh- centrist OVP in May 2017, leading a tion and security. He relied on talk- in Austria. “Islamisation must be A right-wing OVP-FPO coalition dad-born member of the Vienna rebrand that saw the party move to ing points traditionally used by op- government in Austria would likely City Council, told Euronews. the right on several issues, notably ponents of the EU’s refugee policy seek to further clamp down on im- “To see that Austria has a majority immigration. The election slogan on minimum quotas and called for With more than 50% migration and promote nativist of nearly 60% of right-wing voters is “Austrians First” won popular sup- closed borders and deterring refu- of Austria’s policies. not something that would make me port at home and capitalised on gees from coming to Europe,” Sahl- electorate voting for “The difference between it [FPO] happy. I think anti-Muslim rhetoric Kurz’s image as a strong proponent oul said. a right-wing party, and the OVP is one of degrees: While will continue but I know Austria is of law and order. While the FPO — founded by Kurz’s OVP wants to fine migrants strong enough to manage it.” During the campaign, Kurz ap- former Nazis in the 1950s — com- the tide of nativist who refuse to attend integration and pealed to right-wing voters with plained about Kurz’s OVP co-opt- politics appears to language classes, the FPO calls for Mahmud el-Shafey is an Arab pledges to shut down migrant ing their issues during the election be rising in Europe. dropping such classes completely. Weekly correspondent in London. UNESCO gets the director it deserves

he election of former in Paris and, in 2014, was called to Khattab, whom most Africans West — it is his lifelong quest. French Minister of Élysée Palace to become Hollande’s favoured. His wife, Katia, and he have Culture Audrey Azou- adviser on cultural affairs. In 2016 Fate, however, and good lobby- transmitted to their daughter (one Francis Ghilès lay as director-gen- she was appointed minister of ing made the dice roll in a way few of three) Audrey a passion for eral of UNESCO over culture. had anticipated. To have a new debate that is characteristic of so Francis Ghilès is an associate Hamad bin Abdulaziz She faces a tough challenge as the director who is French of Moroccan many enlightened Jewish families. fellow at the Barcelona Centre for al-Kawari, the former United States, which cast its vote origin and a fluent Arabic speaker It does not come as a surprise that International Affairs. Tminister of culture and member against her and provides 20% of the suggests that the dialogue of civili- he sits on the boards of several eco- of the royal family of Qatar, came UNESCO budget, and Israel leave sations still has bite. nomic and financial but also politi- after three months of the kind of the organisation. Azoulay is the daughter of a sen- cal institutions such as the Institut horse trading the world has come to The attitude of US President ior adviser to the king of Morocco Pierre Mendès France and YALA expect for such senior international Donald Trump is in line with the and a mother who is a writer. Azou- (Young Arab Leaders for Peace). He posts. general US wish to retreat from the lay’s father, André, spent 22 years, is a member of the Royal Academy The result came as a surprise to international organisations. Since until 1991, at Paribas where he rose of Spain. many as Azoulay had only thrown the end of the second world war, to be executive vice-president and Katia and André Azoulay’s other her hat into the ring last March, US involvement has underpinned covered the bank’s public affairs abiding love is for Essaouira, where strongly encouraged by then international order and rela- department. He returned to they were born and to whose his- French President François Hol- tive peace among nations. Morocco to advise King Has- tory they have devoted two books. lande. “UNESCO must enter the san II on economic affairs They have helped revive this Her election marks the triumph 21st century and is fac- at a time of significant eco- sleepy port, which boasts a 16th- of competence and cultural diver- ing a crucial few years,” nomic and financial reforms century Portuguese fort, built on a sity at a time when wounded iden- Azoulay said, indicating in the kingdom. He remains grid pattern by a French engineer tities are being paraded throughout she knows how tough her an adviser to King Moham- in the 18th century, by initiating the world and rejection of the new job is. med VI. several music festivals every year, “other” is encouraging the rise of Coming from a regime Throughout his career, ranging from classical to lyrical. populist parties riding on a wave of that is anything but André Azoulay was in- The Gnaoua World Music Festival anti-Islamism throughout Europe. democratic and show- volved in attempts to attracts hundreds of thousands That a woman of 45 whose back- ers money on the bring about the rec- of visitors every summer and ground is Jewish and whose family Muslim Brother- onciliation between the Printemps Musical des Alizés hails from Morocco should be the hood worldwide, Jews and Arabs and brings to Essaouira the rich Judeo- second French person to be elected Kawari, 69, was encourage the idea of Muslim repertoire of the courts in UNESCO’s history does credit to supported by a two-state solution of Spain and North Africa of the the UN organisation and to its host most Arab in the Palestinian Al-Andalus. country, France. countries. territories, an issue This attempt to keep alive and The irony of Israel and the United He was on which King Has- perform a common heritage and The election of States leaving UNESCO just when widely san II was particu- legacy of poetry and music in a former French a Jewish woman is elected the expected larly ac- region suffused with Sufi Islam and group’s leader will be lost on no to win tive. André boasting a very old Jewish com- Minister of Culture one. after the Azoulay is munity by inviting on to the same Audrey Azoulay as After growing up in Paris in a withdraw- passion- stage Muslims, Jews and Roma may director-general of much-politicised family, Azoulay al of the ate when seem an attempt to defy gravity in studied at Sciences Po Paris, the Egyptian he talks of a world torn by conflicts of religion, UNESCO marks the Ecole nationale d’administration, candidate, relations tribe and identity. The new director triumph of the springboard of the senior former Last-minute winner. UNESCO’S new between of UNESCO is well-equipped to French civil service, and the Uni- Minister elected director-general France’s Audrey the world meeting such a challenge head-on. competence and versity of Lancaster. She joined of Culture Azoulay speaks to the media at the UNESCO of Islam The wider world can only wish cultural diversity. the National Centre for Cinema Moushira headquarters in Paris, on October 13. (AP) and the her well.