“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.

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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.