TIME EUROPE
FEBRUARY 14, 2000 VOL. 155 NO. 6
The Man and His Message
Excerpts from TIME's exclusive interview with Jörg Haider
For the full text of this interview, click here
Shortly after formally agreeing on a new government with People's Party leader Wolfgang Schüssel, Jörg Haider spoke to Time Central Europe bureau chief Andrew Purvis and correspondent Angela Leuker. Excerpts:
TIME: How do you account for the strong E.U. response to the Freedom Party's entry into government?
Haider: I expected a wave of protest. We have had a rigid political structure in Austria since 1945. Only two parties have divided all the power between themselves. The more successful we have been [against these parties], the more the Socialist Party organized the protest around the world against us. They told terrible stories. But we have to convince our critics.
TIME: How will you do that?
Haider: Work hard and have good results. On a European level, they will see that they need us because they have to take unanimous decisions. Without Austria, there is no decision.
TIME: In the past you praised Hitler's employment policies and former members of the Waffen SS. Do you still hold those views?
Haider: As I have said before, I have made some mistakes in the past and I regret this and I apologize for having wounded people. I have made it clear that the Freedom Party has a clear distance from all ideas like nationalism and National Socialism.
TIME: Why did you praise Hitler's employment policies?
Haider: I think it was only one sentence out of a big debate in the regional parliament. They took out one sentence and made a campaign against me and it was not possible for me to explain myself.
TIME: What about your praise of the former Waffen SS?
Haider: At the time when I was speaking, I didn't know who was in the audience. I knew there were veterans, but I didn't know there were Waffen SS veterans.
TIME: In your campaign, you implied that immigrants were taking away jobs. But Austria's unemployment rate is low. Are immigrants threatening Austrians' jobs?
Haider: No. We have jobs for people with low qualifications. But if you look at the unemployment rate of the foreigners, you will see it is twice as high as Austrian unemployment. Soon after entering Austria, they lose their jobs because they are fired, or something else. Then they take the subsidies of the state. They live better than they do in their own countries. The Austrian people say, if we don't need them, we shouldn't invite them to come.
TIME: What policies will you introduce to reduce immigration?
Haider: First, we want to integrate the foreigners already living in Austria before opening the border and accepting additional immigrants.
TIME: After that is done, will you then open the borders?
Haider: It's not decided. But our main problem in the future will not be immigration, it will be the enlargement of the E.U. We are surrounded by potential new members and these members want to integrate and open the labor market as soon as possible. But if you open the labor market [too quickly], it encourages social conflict and will bring some job losses. There is a big gap between incomes in the new countries and incomes in Europe, especially Austria.
TIME: Do you agree that Austria hasn't come to terms with its role in World War II?
Haider: For a long period after the end of World War II the two predominant political parties--the Socialist Party and the People's Party--tried to reduce responsibility for the past. They said Austria was the first victim and not responsible at all. But we have victims and perpetrators. We were sitting on both sides.
TIME: After the next elections, will you put yourself forward as Chancellor?
Haider: We will see. If there is a need to be a candidate, I can decide it.
TIME: How does it feel being in government?
Haider: I had to fight 20 years against this political system and against international problems ... always having to make clear that the Freedom Party is not comparable with other radical or xenophobic movements. We took the final step today. It is a chance for Austria, and a chance for Europe.
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