Freedom of expression or extremism? MFG defends itself against DÖW report!

Freedom of expression or extremism? MFG defends itself against DÖW report!

On April 3, 2025, the “Human Freedom and Fundamental Rights” (MFG) movement protested against the blanket defamation of diversity of opinion in the new report from the Documentation Archive of the Austrian Resistance (DÖW). The report, which covers the years 2020 to 2023, was presented on Friday and includes 196 pages dealing with right-wing extremist activities in Austria. The DÖW report was commissioned by the black-green government and is the first of its kind in almost two decades.

The contents of the report have caused waves in the political landscape. The FPÖ is mentioned 231 times in the document and a “strong personnel anchoring” and a “historical close relationship” with the FPÖ are noted. This party, under its chairman Herbert Kickl, sees its existence threatened by the reporting and is calling for the immediate termination of its cooperation with the DÖW. Kickl has made positive comments about the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement (IBÖ) in the past.

Main content of the report

A central theme of the report is the ethnic milieu, which is considered a traditional “pillar of Austrian right-wing extremism”, associated with student fraternities. DÖW head Andreas Kranebitter described the report as a kind of “speed trap” for right-wing extremist activities. Particular attention is also paid to the connections between right-wing extremism and the protests against the coronavirus measures, in which increasing numbers of FPÖ representatives were active.

The ÖVP is portrayed in the report as “weak and unbelievable” in relation to its relationship with the Identitarian Movement. It is also associated with right-wing extremist issues, particularly in the person of Karl Mahrer, the Vienna ÖVP chairman, and Gudrun Kugler, an ÖVP National Council member. However, Alexander Pröll, the general secretary of the ÖVP, stated that the party strictly rejects right-wing extremism.

Reactions and political implications

The reactions to the report are diverse. While the FPÖ criticized the report as ideologically motivated, SPÖ leader Andreas Babler described the results as “highly alarming” and called for measures to be taken against right-wing extremism. NEOS club chairwoman Stephanie Krisper is pushing for the creation of a national action plan to combat extreme right-wing movements. Green Party spokesman Lukas Hammer emphasized that the FPÖ is perceived as the parliamentary arm of the extreme right.

The MFG, on the other hand, sees the reporting as a blanket defamation that harms democratic diversity of opinion. According to MFG, the report reflects a problematic view that stigmatizes not only legitimate political opinions but also those who think differently. This raises the question of the extent to which a differentiated view of political trends in social debate is possible.

Overall, the report shows how complex and multifaceted the issue of right-wing extremism in Austria is, and it challenges all political actors to deal with the challenges of this issue. The discussion about the DÖW report is already in full swing and will continue to shape the political landscape in the country. Further information on the content and discussion can be found in the detailed reports from OTS, ORF and crown.