We’ve got an election coming up soon here in Vienna, and while I don’t know much about Austrian politics, I can say that the city is plastered with political advertising right now. Here are a few photos taken on one walk around the Ring.
As an American, I can’t help noticing that the pool of candidates is 100 percent white, and about 95 percent male. How quaint 🙂
Not so quaint: seeing Austrian Freedom Party posters everywhere. Major creepiness. And they apparently have plenty of money for advertising. Slogans include gems such as “Vienna must not become Istanbul,” and “More strength for our Viennese blood.” Read more here if you like to get to know some people who haven’t learned a dang thing from history. They won about 26 percent of the vote in city elections in 2010, much of it from people under 30. Ugh.
Apologies for the possibly awkward translations. My Österreichisch is still pretty lame after two years living in Vienna. I make no excuses, it just is what it is.
Social Democratic party: A more secure hand for jobs. The red is deliberate: Vienna historically leans socialist.Social Democratic party: For positions that are more than just jobs.Austrian People’s Party (Christian Democrats): Change politics, vote for the future. (Or a younger version of the guys above…)Austrian People’s Party: Welcome future.The New Austria Party: youth-oriented, liberal/libertarian. Gridlock out, NEOs in!Secure pensions. Frank now. This billionaire is Vienna’s Bloomberg. He’d like to buy himself a mayor’s office.Austrian Freedom Party (neo-Nazis): Love your neighbor. This is what it means to be Austrian. This apparently also translates as “love those who are like you.” Â Hm.Austrian Freedom Party: same slogan, same subtext found in racist right-wing party advertising throughout history and throughout the world: protect our womenfolk.Green party: Less sheeplike than the others. Cleaner environment, cleaner politics. (If I were Austrian, I’d vote for this party just because I like the posters!)
Well, That Was Different 