Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

'For a just peace in Palestine': Palestine Solidarity Austria to contest general elections

  • Dieter Reinisch Dieter Reinisch
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 7 Jul 2024 00:41
  • 2 Shares
6 Min Read

The activists want to use the heightened public interest during the election campaign to address the US-Israeli aggression on Gaza, the ongoing genocide, and the increasing threats against Lebanon.

Listen
  • x
  • 'For a just peace in Palestine': Palestine Solidarity Austria to contest general elections
    'For a just peace in Palestine': Palestine Solidarity Austria to contest general elections

“No political party opposes the genocide in Gaza," the well-known criminal defense lawyer Astrid Wagner told Al Mayadeen English at a press conference in Vienna, Austria, on Monday. Together with pro-Palestinian activists, she presented the newly founded “Gaza List - A Voice Against Genocide." The electoral platform wants to give “everyone who is opposed to the genocide in Palestine a voice on the ballot paper," one of the activists, Martin Weinberger, said.

“Gaza, these four letters should be on the ballot paper in all nine federal states in Austria," he said. The activists want to use the heightened public interest during the election campaign to address the US-Israeli aggression on Gaza, the ongoing genocide, and the increasing threats against Lebanon.

To achieve their first cornerstone on their path to the elections – the recognition by the federal elections commission – “the List Gaza” needs to collect 2600 declarations of support from Austrian citizens or other nationalities with voting rights and a permanent home in Austria until the end of July. This is not an easy target for a new electoral platform with no major donors and full-time activists. The season is an additional obstacle for the ambitious activistsز Last week, summer school holidays started in the Eastern parts of the country around the region of the capital, Vienna, where a third of the population lives and most people have already left for vacation.

Nonetheless, the activists are determined to succeed: “'List Gaza' is running to give a voice to the multitude of people who, in the spirit of Austrian neutrality and human rights, demand that Austria support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine," the platform wrote in a press statement on Monday.

The intended candidacy is “a call to the established parties to stop remaining silent about the mass murder in Gaza and to take the necessary steps to immediately end Austria’s and the European Union’s military, economic and political support for Israel’s inhumane war," they continued.

At the press conference, Patrick Bongola, who chaired the event, said that the group “stands up for democratic rights, against Apartheid, expulsion, and oppression, with the perspective of a just peace in Palestine." The candidates have different origins, religions, and political views. They are united by their shared commitment to peace and the defense of fundamental democratic rights, human rights, and social justice in Austria, Palestine, and worldwide.

One of the candidates, Nura Hashem from Palestine, is a member of the “Handala Culture Forum” in Vienna. In a conversation with Al Mayadeen, she explained the motivations behind her support for the “List Gaza”. “Our voices should be heard in Austrian politics, not only on the streets of Vienna," she said.

Related News

From Anne's diary to Hind's plea: Humanity is absent, annihilation repeats

The West Bank is on the verge of catastrophe

For her, the most important thing is the freedom of Palestine, the end of the occupation, and the end of the Genocide. "We all want the same thing. We want justice, we want peace, and we want freedom for all nations, for all people."

Another candidate is well-known criminal lawyer Astrid Wagner, who told Al Mayadeen English, “As a lawyer, I am increasingly concerned about the restrictions on freedom of speech in Austria. I represent many young people who are facing criminal proceedings because they have said a specific sentence or have a confident attitude towards Palestine."

“As a political figure, I woke up because I understand these threats to democracy we are currently facing in Austria. I was asked to stand as a candidate, and I am doing it because I believe that in times like these, a new political force is needed in Austria: on the one hand, to defend democracy in Austria, and on the other hand, there is no political party that condemns the Genocide in Gaza. However, many people denounce the Genocide. A vote for us is, therefore, a vote against the Genocide in Gaza and for democracy," Wagner told Al Mayadeen English.

Among the organizers and candidates of “List Gaza” are members of the umbrella group “Palestine Solidarity Austria” (PSÖ) and representatives of several organizations of the PSÖ alliance, such as the “Handala Culture Forum”, “Not In Our Name,” and the “Anti-Imperialist Coordination." Artists, such as the 2022 winner of the nationwide “Protest Song Contest”, the Palestinian, Izraa Doghman, and others are also involved.

The “List Gaza” is running to give a voice to the large number of people who, in the spirit of Austrian neutrality and human rights, are calling for Austria to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine, media representatives were told on Monday. “The intended candidacy is also a call to the established parties to stop remaining silent about the mass murder in Gaza and to take the necessary steps to immediately end Austria’s and the EU’s military, economic, and political support for Israel’s inhumane war," platform coordinator Irian Vana told Al Mayadeen. Stopping oppression in Palestine is a step to stop oppression worldwide and to build a peaceful and just world, the assembled media heard.

To be eligible to stand in the general election in all nine federal states, the “List Gaza - A Voice Against Genocide” must collect 2600 declarations of support by the end of July.

The Conservative-green coalition currently rules Austria. Since October 7, it has been among the major supporters of "Israel" on the international stage. Its government has voted three times against a ceasefire in the UN General Assembly. It has also severely cracked down on peaceful protests in Gaza, banning demonstrations and fining hundreds of protesters. 

The rightwing, Islamophobic, and racist Freedom Party (FPOe) currently leads the polls with over five points ahead of the leaders of the opposition, the Social Democrats, and the ruling Conservatives.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Gaza Strip
  • Occupied Palestine
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Gaza genocide
  • List Gaza
  • Austria
  • Austria elections
  • Gaza
Dieter Reinisch

Dieter Reinisch

Journalist and Historian

War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

All
Why Russia and China are NOT Imperialist: A Marxist-Leninist Assessment of Imperialism’s Development Since 1917

Why Russia and China are NOT Imperialist: A Marxist-Leninist Assessment of Imperialism’s Development Since 1917

  • Analysis
  • 4 Sep 2025
The Coming War On Iran Will Be Regional, Perhaps International

The coming war on Iran will be regional, perhaps international

  • Opinion
  • 2 Sep 2025
In the immediate aftermath of Parubiy’s slaying, claims emerged he had months earlier requested formal protection from the SBU, only to be rebuffed. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

The Ukrainian neo-Nazi who knew too much?

  • Opinion
  • 5 Sep 2025
The West Bank is on the verge of catastrophe

The West Bank is on the verge of catastrophe

  • Opinion
  • 9 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Since May, the police have informed the organisers and participants of each manifestation that the use of “From the river to the sea…” and “Intifada” is forbidden. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How Austria criminalises 'From the River to the Sea' and 'Intifada'

Bans, fines, and charges: The repression of the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Austria

Bans, fines, and charges: The repression of the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Austria

Whither the European anti-war movements?

Whither the European anti-war movements?

“Many people are afraid” and would reduce their political activism: “They are afraid of losing their jobs.” Austria is an “extremely Zionist country,” (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Arwa Makki)

Threats and smear campaign against Palestinian voices in Europe

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS