Smith says other European governments feel extreme anxiety about what is known of Haider's agenda, particularly his stance against immigration. France, Germany and Belgium, the countries that led the EU response, may also be spurred by a desire to set an example for their own extreme right-wing parties. Analysts considering possible solutions to the crisis have so far remained pessimistic. Four months of attempts to form a government have failed, and if the coalition between the Freedom Party and the People's Party fails also, Austria will have to call elections. In such a contest, polls suggest, Joerg Haider and his Freedom Party would probably emerge as outright winners.
Analysts also doubt the viability of long-term political sanctions.
Even though Austria's 14 partners have talked of bilateral measures, lasting political isolation would harm the European Union. According to EU regulations, Austria, should it choose to do so, could actively stymie much of the work of the EU by boycotting key sessions. In recognition of this, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, has distanced itself from the action of EU member governments. There will be no paralysis of the European Union institutions, and certainly not of the commission. A European Commission spokesman said he wanted to emphasize that the normal activities of the EU are different from the bilateral relations of member states.