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What is Austria’s beer party and why are they surging in the polls?

Austria's so-called “Beer Party” is polling in third place ahead of Vienna's crucial state election. Could a beer fountain in the middle of Austria's capital become a reality?

Published: 11 October 2023 16:55 CEST
What is Austria's beer party and why are they surging in the polls?
This file photo taken on September 9, 2022 shows Dominik Wlazny, founder of the Beer Party (Bierpartei), as he presented posters for his presidential campaign in downtown Vienna, Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

The Beer Party is currently polling at 12 percent ahead of the Vienna state election, that’s ahead of the centre-right ÖVP party who are on 10 percent in the latest poll.

To put that in context, only two parties are polling better, the center left SPÖ (35 percent) and far-right FPÖ (23 percent).

If the results were taken as they are today, the Beer Party would rank as the third-largest party in the Viennese state and secure seats on the city council. It’s not clear though, who would govern in coalition with the Beer Party, but it would get certain representation and speaking rights in Vienna state parliament.

Who’s behind the beer party?

Austrian comedian, doctor, brewer, and musician Dominik Wlazny, known by his stage name Marco Pogo, founded the satirical ‘Beer Party’ in 2015 in response to perceived corruption and a lack of transparency in Austrian politics.

Wlazny himself studied medicine in Vienna and worked as a general doctor in a hospital before quitting in 2014 to focus on music.

Wlazny said that he was inspired by one of the songs played by the punk band he was a part of, which included the lyrics: ‘If you like to be fat and drink a lot every day, then vote for us now, the Beer Party, and we’ll abolish the alcohol tax.”

The party has since built up over 1,000 members. Wlazny and 10 others have served as district councillors in Vienna following 2020 city elections.

In Autumn 2022, Wlazny entered the race to become president of Austria, which he eventually failed to win.

He said at the time: “Beer is a great thing. But actually it’s about how you can get involved, and you don’t have to be a beer drinker for that.”

What do the beer party want?

The party’s proposals perhaps explain why they are so popular.

They involve delivering barrels of beer to citizens, providing 50 litres per month for adults and even 20 litres per month for children.

They aim to eliminate taxes on drinks served in bars and restaurants and compensate for this with a 50 percent tax on “Radlers” (generally beer mixed with lemon soda or other fruit juice).

Additionally, the beer purists also promote a “Radler buyback program”, where Radlers can be exchanged for what they refer to as “real beer”.

Their policies also include the concept of a gastronomy network that encourages improved relations between local restaurateurs and local politicians, as well as the abolition of mandatory closing times for bars and restaurants.

The Beer Party promotes a “live and let live” philosophy regarding drinking behaviour but points out that this should not apply to Radler drinkers.

Any other more realistic aims?

Besides the drinking-related proposals, the party also has some more serious ambitions. They aim to encourage more people to participate in the electoral process so that Austrian politics can be taken more seriously. They also insist on introducing a mandatory aptitude test for politicians.

In addition to this, the Beer Party wants more resources to be allocated to Vienna’s public transport and sports facilities, and they have taken a forward-thinking position on transgender rights and environmental issues.

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POLITICS

EXPLAINED: Why Austria does not recognise the state of Palestine

Norway, Spain, and Ireland have announced they will recognise Palestine as a state - so where does Austria stand and why?

Published: 23 May 2024 11:34 CEST
EXPLAINED: Why Austria does not recognise the state of Palestine

The war in the Middle East has brought back some significant debate in Austria and Europe in general. When is criticism of Israel a demonstration of antisemitism? Is a two-state solution, with the recognition of Palestine as a country, the answer to end the region’s bloodshed? And where does Austria stand on the matter?

As it is, “Palestine is not recognised by Austria as a state in the sense of international law”, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry. 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken out against a separate Palestinian state, which the USA and the Europeans support in principle.

So far, there is only a Palestinian Authority (PA) with very limited state rights, which is based in the West Bank.

READ ALSO: Why conservatives in Lower Austria want to tighten citizenship rules

Which EU countries already recognise the Palestinian state?

Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced they would recognise Palestine as a state by the end of May. The three countries have already attracted a furious response from Israel, which called back its ambassadors in response.

Still, other EU countries might follow suit in hopes that the recognition would help peace negotiations in the region. Slovenia and Malta have also hinted at the imminent recognition of Palestine as a state. 

Sweden took this step ten years ago. The other nine EU states that already recognise Palestine as a state, including Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, did so when they were not yet EU members.

Around 140 out of 193 UN members recognise Palestine as a state.

Palestine, therefore, has the status of an observing non-member state in the UN. This means it can participate in meetings of the General Assembly but does not have the right to vote. Palestine has been a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague for almost ten years since 2015.

Palestine cannot be recognised as a full member of the UN until a majority of the UN Security Council votes in favour.

However, the Palestinian territories are not recognised as a state by the USA, France and the United Kingdom – all three of whom are permanent members of the Security Council. They only want to agree to recognition once the conflict with Israel has been peacefully resolved.

READ ALSO: Concern grows in Austria over rise in anti-Semitic acts

What about Austria?

Austria insists on a “political process,” Kurier reported. Austria has long been a supporter of a negotiated two-state solution based on international law.

“We are deeply convinced that this is the only option that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully side by side,” Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told the newspaper.

“Of course, this also requires the creation of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state.”

The Foreign Minister proposes further negotiations for the two-state solution. “Symbolic recognition at this point will not help the Palestinians. Rather, a sustainable solution is needed so that both sides can live in peace and security,” the minister said.

Strong ties to Israel

Austria has also, of course, been a strong ally of Israel for decades. It has repeatedly shown its support for the country and the Jewish population, a historical tie going back to the legacy of the Holocaust. 

Recently, Austria was among the few countries that voted no to a ceasefire as a United Nations resolution. 

Explaining Austria’s rare decision to take a firm stance, Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) said: “A resolution in which the terrorist organisation Hamas is not named, in which the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th are not condemned and in which Israel’s right to self-defence, which is enshrined in international law, is not stated – Austria cannot agree to such a resolution.”

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