By: Vickie J. Rubinson
Jorg Haider, the charismatic Austrian politician who catapulted his rightest anti-immigration party with sharp attacks on rivals and provocative praise of the Nazi era, died in a car accident. He was 58.
Although he was commonly labeled a rightist, Haider was more a populist who defied categorization, often swiftly embracing positions contrary to his early reputation as a hater of foreigners. Often at odds with the telegenic Haider, politicians from across the ideological spectrum were in shock at his death.
Austrian President Heinz Fishcer described it a "human tragedy." Haider who never held a post in the national government was governor of the province of Carinthia at the time of his death and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria--formed after breaking away from the far right Freedom Party in 2005.
He lauded Nazis as creating "a good policy of employment." He condemned the "laziness of the Southerners"--meaning immigrants south of Austria, describing their countries as "the place of criminality and corruption."
But later in his political life, he also endorsed European Union membership for Turkey--out of line with most Austrians. He also apologized for some comments hateful of Jews and contemptuous of foreigners and stopped making others.
Jorg Haider, the charismatic Austrian politician who catapulted his rightest anti-immigration party with sharp attacks on rivals and provocative praise of the Nazi era, died in a car accident. He was 58.
Although he was commonly labeled a rightist, Haider was more a populist who defied categorization, often swiftly embracing positions contrary to his early reputation as a hater of foreigners. Often at odds with the telegenic Haider, politicians from across the ideological spectrum were in shock at his death.
Austrian President Heinz Fishcer described it a "human tragedy." Haider who never held a post in the national government was governor of the province of Carinthia at the time of his death and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria--formed after breaking away from the far right Freedom Party in 2005.
He lauded Nazis as creating "a good policy of employment." He condemned the "laziness of the Southerners"--meaning immigrants south of Austria, describing their countries as "the place of criminality and corruption."
But later in his political life, he also endorsed European Union membership for Turkey--out of line with most Austrians. He also apologized for some comments hateful of Jews and contemptuous of foreigners and stopped making others.
Haider's own public image was relentlessly cultivated to reinforce the perception of a handsome man of action: a permanently suntanned fitness fanatic who was a devil on the ski slopes, bungee-jumping and who completed the New York City marathon in 3 hours and 52 minutes.
His death came at a time of renewed personal political success and a resurgence of the fortunes of the Right in last month's national elections.
Authorities said an initial investigation showed no signs of foul play and that Haider had been speeding when he crashed into a concrete barrier. Said Freedom Party boss Heinz-Christian Strache--"Jorg Haider achieved great things...he was a great figure."
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