Van der Bellen at the Antifa commemoration in Wels: FP mayor irritated

2023-11-03 15:05:00

This weekend, the mayor of Wels, Andreas Rabl (FP), is visiting Moldova on behalf of the Council of Europe. As an election observer, he is supposed to help ensure that local elections in Europe’s poorest country go off smoothly.

This is also the reason why a meeting with the Federal President will not take place at the beginning of next week. As reported, Alexander Van der Bellen will give a speech at the annual pogrom night commemoration on Monday at the invitation of Welser Antifa. There was a request from the presidential office: “But my plane only lands shortly before the requested date,” the mayor explains the rejection.

Mayor is irritated

Rabl makes no secret of it: Van der Bellen’s presence at the Antifa event bothers him. Their protagonists would denigrate the FPÖ as racist and right-wing extremist at every possible opportunity. In addition, the city’s official memorial event in front of the Jewish memorial in Pollheimer Park is being torpedoed by Antifa with interventions. This is damaging to the political climate in the city: “After his conciliatory speech at the opening of the Salzburg Festival, I cannot understand how the Federal President came to take part in this,” says Rabl.

This year’s commemoration is also marked by the massacres of Jewish civilians. Compared to previous years, the police will significantly increase their presence: “You cannot see the memory of the Jewish victims 85 years ago in isolation. The most recent events, such as the arson attack on the Jewish cemetery in Vienna, will be reflected in the speeches,” says Antifa chairman Werner Retzl.

Wels Antifa is critical of the fact that left-wing activists are also chanting Israel’s extinction at pro-Palestine demos: “We are clearly positioned. After these attacks, there is no relativization. Demonstrating for Palestine is not possible at the moment.”

In view of the Federal President’s visit, the Antifa boss is expecting a record number of visitors on Monday in front of the Jewish memorial from 6:30 p.m., “assuming the weather cooperates.” The speeches will be given by Retzl, Van der Bellen and Martin Kamrat, Vice President of the Jewish Community in Linz.

Speaker remains secret

Anyone who speaks as a guest of honor at the city’s official commemoration on Wednesday (7 p.m.) will be kept under lock and key in the Wels town hall. The reason is that this is intended to ensure the protection of the person concerned. Last year the Jewish historian and author Thomas Varkonyi spoke. The planned participation of school classes has also been politically controversial recently. As reported, the city promised the students money. Rabl defended himself against the accusation of instrumentalization and referred to the decision of the Education Directorate.

“As far as I know, the education directorate rejected the city’s request,” says Retzl, not entirely without glee. A clarification came from the school authorities yesterday: Participation is free for every student. But it is not a school event.

That’s why there is no money for the respective classes, regrets the Wels mayor’s spokeswoman.