Whilst early debates focused on “German Austria” as a nation in its own right, the idea of an “Anschluss” with Germany gained ground, and soon became the prevailing political concept. Delegates from German-speaking provinces of the former Empire gathered in Vienna in October 1918 to discuss statehood. The Republic of Austria emerged as one of the new states from the rubble of the Habsburg Empire after the First World War. Waldheim, with past experience in international affairs, is the best man for the job,'' a People`s Party official said.ĭuring his campaign, Waldheim repeatedly emphasized his 40 years`Įxperience in world affairs, in which he said he played an important role in obtaining greater status for export-oriented Austria.Coming to Terms with the Past: The Case of the ‘House of Austrian History’ (Haus der Geschichte Österreich) in the Wake of the Rise of Populist Nationalism in Austria Global crisis in memory Coming to Terms with the Past: The Case of the ‘House of Austrian History’ Haus der Geschichte Österreich in the Wake of the Rise of Populist Nationalism in Austria Authors: Abstract ''The people have shown they do not believe these allegations and feel that Dr. ''Waldheim could not have expected as many votes before the accusations against him were launched.''Įlection analysts said the voters must have crossed traditional party lines to support Waldheim and expressed their indignation against what image- conscious Austrians believed was ''a smirch'' on their country and ''a Zionist plot.''įew here doubted that the majority of the electorate would not give their preference to the career diplomat who headed the United Nations for 10 years and campaigned under the slogan, ''The Great Austrian.'' ''The allegations have backfired,'' a Waldheim aide said. Special units of the army committed atrocities in the Balkans during the final years of the war. Sinowatz said his Socialist Party had suffered a serious setback and he would announce Monday whether he would step down.Īpparently impervious to the negative reactions abroad, hundreds of Waldheim supporters danced and clapped hands in time to brass bands playing folk music outside the People`s Party headquarters in central Vienna Sunday night.Īlthough the post of president is largely ceremonial, Waldheim`s sound victory in the runoff election was hailed by his supporters as an ''act of Austrian self-consciousness'' and a protest against allegations that he covered up his role as an intelligence officer attached to the German army. Waldheim by those who were in the Second World War and did not want to be labeled war criminals.''Īustrian Chancellor Fred Sinowatz stunned many when he snapped, ''It would have been better for Austria if Steyrer had won.'' Meanwhile, Steyrer lamented, ''The attacks by the (World) Jewish Congress have evoked emotions that were not favorable to me.''Īnd the leader of the People`s Party, Alois Mock, said, ''There was solidarity with Dr. ''The results show the population does not accept the charges against me,'' said Waldheim, who blamed what he called ''private institutions'' for the allegations that he was a war criminal. It was the biggest presidential margin of victory in Austria`s postwar history and showed that 7.5 million conservative Austrians are not deterred by fear of repercussions from abroad. Kurt Steyrer, Waldheim`s Socialist opponent, drew 2,107,317 votes, or 46.1 percent. Interior Minister Karl Blecha declared People`s Party candidate Waldheim the winner with 2,464,598 votes, or 53.9 percent of the valid ballots cast. British opposition Labor Party politicians called on the government to bar Waldheim from entering Britain. The Soviet Union praised Waldheim`s record at the United Nations and alleged Washington and ''Zionist circles'' had mounted a campaign against him to try to influence the Austrian election.
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