Jörg Haider Dead

[wilpuri]

Austria's Haider dies in accident

Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has been killed in a road accident, police say.

Mr Haider suffered severe head and chest injuries after his car came off the road in Carinthia, his political base.

Police investigating the crash said he had been driving alone.

The 58-year-old was leader of the Alliance for Austria's Future, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies.

The Alliance was one of two right-wing parties which did better than expected in general elections last month, fuelling speculation of a possible role in a ruling coalition.

He had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day.

"For us this is the end of the world," the deputy leader of Mr Haider's Alliance for Austria's Future, Stefan Petzner, told Austrian news agency, APA.

Austria's President Heinz Fischer said Mr Haider's death was a "human tragedy", while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described him as someone who had shaped Austria's domestic and political landscape over decades, according to the Associated Press news agency.
EU sanctions

Mr Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986.

In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany.

But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003.

In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government.

In 2005, Mr Haider left the Freedom Party and founded the Alliance for Austria's Future, which scored its best result so far in elections last month, gaining 11% of the vote.

This was, however, well below the 27% which the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Mr Haider's electoral career at national level.

"With his passing, Austria has lost a great political figure," said Heinz-Christian Strache, who had taken over as leader of the Freedom Party after Mr Haider left.

'

R.I.P

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7664846.stm

[PacSubCom]

Oh happy day!

[Aziel]

I read about him at an Israeli newspaper a week ago. That's odd.

[Војвода Драгутин Кесеровић]

How come he died, I thought he was younger than that? And an Arian on top of all things

[wilpuri]

How come he died, I thought he was younger than that? And an Arian on top of all things

May be young people don't die in the Balkans, where invincible Serbian youth fight the treacherous Albanians day and night, but in the rest of the world, people of all ages die in car-crashes.

[Војвода Драгутин Кесеровић]

May be young people don't die in the Balkans, where invincible Serbian youth fight the treacherous Albanians day and night, but in the rest of the world, people of all ages die in car-crashes.

no actually our traffic is a mess, so young people mostly die in car crashes, or did you really think that the Shqiptars could get the better of us?

[Pallantides]

R.I.P

[The King Of Peasants]

Oh happy day!

Who celebrates the death of they're political opponent... Why do they refer to them as far right again...

[Каие]

What a terrible coincidence and horrible twist of fate...he does fantastically in election bringing support and recognition to the far right... then...dies. Although I don't agree with that guys politics it's a shame to see his career when it was just winning end that way, and when he was on his way to attend his mothers 90th birthday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7664846.stm

[Aedelric]

Thank Christ, now just need the rest of his party to follow his fine example and die.

[Каие]

Who is he trying to be Willy wonka?

[mongrel]

A a Christian I must pray for his soul.

As someone who appreciates the works of Oscar Wilde, I would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.

[Каие]

Oscar Wilde?

[Yorkshireman]

It won't make much difference in Austrian politics, he was considered quite divisive, thats why the Freedom Party split.

[mongrel]

Oscar Wilde?

Oscar Wilde, suffered sitting through a particularly morbid Victorian melodrama and remarked that anyone who viewed the death of Little Nell would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh. I trust that you will understand my sentiments in the light of post.

[Каие]

Oscar Wilde, suffered sitting through a particularly morbid Victorian melodrama and remarked that anyone who viewed the death of Little Nell would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh. I trust that you will understand my sentiments in the light of post.

Ah, all cleared up...I thought you were going to say he predicted it in some way.

[Каие]

But still effective...he was the architect of the Freedom Party's success, and the reason for the new Alliance party's success.

[Mythos]

Quite suspicious. I didn't support his views but quite suspicious nevertheless.

[Каие]

Assassination?

[Sebdeas]

I smell a conspiracy
Bring out the tinfoil hats!