Tide turning for EU? Austria appoints anti-EU candidate as Foreign Minister | World | News | Express.co.uk
Author: Leigh Boobyer
Description: AUSTRIA has sent a powerful political message to the EU by appointing an anti-European candidate as foreign minister.
Date: 2017-11-07T00:01:00+00:00

# TIDE TURNING? Slap in face for Juncker as Austria appoints anti-EU Foreign Minister

### AUSTRIA has sent a powerful political message to the EU by appointing an anti-European candidate as foreign minister.

By Leigh Boobyer
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Tue, Nov 7, 2017 | UPDATED: 12:19, Tue, Nov 7, 2017

Norbert Hofer, who has repeatedly attacked the EU over immigration, economic and security policies, will become the most important representative of the EU-critical Freedom Party (FPÖ) and take over the EU and world affairs agendas for Austria.

Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), is holding coalition talks with the FPÖ to form a new government by Christmas.

Mr Hofer is considered a vehement critic of the notion of an superstate, and is cautious of Eurocrats.

FPÖ politicians have ultimately demanded Mr Kurz appoint a finance minister or a foreign minister of the far-right party or else they will force coalition talks to collapse.

GETTY

Austria are poised to appoint anti-EU Norbert Hofer as foreign minister

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> There is no debate or dialogue with the far-right

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Populist Mr Hofer is smooth performer in front of the cameras and has been instrumental in helping the FPÖ shed some of the harsher aspects of its image.

He has previously said that carrying guns is a “natural consequence” of immigration.

GETTY

Mr Hofer’s appointment as foreign minister would strike a blow to the EU

Hofer’s appointment is a clear slap in the face for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker who has expressed wishes to isolate and use sanctions against any far-right or populist governments swept to power or presidential office on the wave of popular anger against migration.

He has made clear that Mr Hofer would have been frozen out of EU decision-making when he stood to be President of Austria in 2016.

Mr Juncker said at the time: “There is no debate or dialogue with the far-right.”

### World's youngest leader: Sebastian Kurz, 31, declares victory in Austria election

Mon, October 16, 2017

## Austrian election 2017: The Austrian People's Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 61 of the 183 seats

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EPA
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Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, the leader and top candidate of the Austrian Peoples Party (OeVP) addresses his supporters during an OeVP's election party after the Austrian Federal Elections

Mr Hofer could use his position as foreign minister to influence other EU states to oppose Mr Juncker’s plans to impose a single tax system, one finance president and an EU army.

Mr Kurz should form his new government by Christmas and will become the youngest head of government in Europe.

He campaigned on a platform that combined a hard line on immigration similar to the FPÖ with traditional conservative principles like slimming down the state and cutting taxes.

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