After all, Social Democrats and Conservatives have learned the lesson of the Waldheim years and have publicly accepted Austria s responsibility for its large share in Nazi atrocities. Haider s electoral support articulates a diffuse protest vote rather than endorsement for right wing extremism. One common answer is that they are the losers of modernization . Yet over the whole period of Haider s rise, Austria has had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Western Europe. Austria s economy has clearly profited from joining the European Union, the comparatively generous system of welfare benefits and retirement pensions has not suffered severe cutbacks.
Crime rates are down and still falling.
There are virtually no strikes or other serious social unrest. But all this is still a far cry from the drastic neoliberal policies adopted by other European governments. He has made great inroads among young blue-collar workers, a group where the FP has now more support than the Social Democrats, but his party attracts at the same time yuppies and successful entrepreneurs. The other big surprise for observers throughout Europe was how the ruling coalition reacted to the election results. Until January opinion polls showed consistently that a continuation of the old two-party government was by far the most popular option.