Bulgarian woe as Libertas attempted to woo far right support

Libertas paid hundreds of Euros in travel expenses to get people to their Rome rally on 1 May. However the elites in the party in some cases pocketed the money and left people in 1 euro a night caravans. What is clear is that there were different treatment meted out to different people.

While some were treated to hotels and airfares others endured arduous ferry journeys and accomadation unfit for humans.



Sorry for the poor google translation below. Original

They screwed "LIBERTAS" IN BULGARIA

. The picture are the two main culprits in Bulgaria will participate in "Libertas" for elections to the European Parliament - Bliznakov Nikolai (left) and Jens-Peter Bond.

On May 12 TSIKEP coalition refused to register "Libertas - free citizens. На 15-ти май ВАС потвърди отказа. On May 15 you confirm the refusal. . Thus, European Movement Libertas, in the formation of the party involved and "freedom" will not participate in the electoral process to the European Parliament in Bulgaria.

Already in October 2008 posredsvom links of some parliamentarians former MP from the Grand National Assembly Nikolai Bliznakov evroparlamentarista connect with Jens-Peter Bond, also known as "Mr. Transparency".

Jens-Peter Bond (or Bond) is popular in European Parliament with its eternal discord and revolt, and that never terminator started his political projects. . Thus, in the early 70's he was a member of the Danish Communist Party but left soon, in 1992. It creates and then leave 'June Movement group left, in 1994. . is Co-founder and major figure in the formation dyasnopatriotichnata already "Europe of the Nations napuska.Toy "...... which is also the most long-held European Parliament so far.

Declan Ganley, creator of "Libertas", decided in 2008. . Loaded it with responsibility to organize the party's establishment and to promote the emergence of party structures "Libertas" in several European countries. Скандалите следват. Scandals followed. On February 2 statement signed by two founders of Libertas members - respectively from Bulgaria and Estonia, publicly renounce and withdraw its support. . Comments are for dishonesty and confusion about the new Bond formatsiya.Ot itself has not to date a clear response to these allegations.

Bond was responsible for the formation of Libertas in Bulgaria and Romania. In Romania,nothing happened. None of the major Romanian politicians dwnated to work with him.

In Bulgaria, on the contrary, we were to include even more of the desired duet Bond-Bliznakov. Since February 5 Pavel Chernev signed declaration as founder of Libertas, to be registered by the European Commission European party. е . After a month of silence and uncertainty, 2, 3 and 4 March Pavel Chernev (for own account) visited the headquarters of Libertas in Brussels and held talks with Bond. There Chernev declare full readiness to assist the new Freedom formation and, if need be and mandatonositel evroformatsiyata of elections for union yuni.Bonde 7 visits Bulgaria on 5 and 6 March. In meetings with party activists and many others wishing to join the initiative of Declan Ganli, Jens-Peter stressed that freedom is an integral part of Libertas that all you are more than welcome to have as broad a formula merging the civil associations political parties. However, in private conversations Nikolai insinuatingly Bliznakov already prevailing ideas about the role of civil associations in the creation of Libertas in the country and the role of parties is unlikely, not only as a technical element for registering for the elections.

In this spirit, and were decided by the Council of Political Freedom in the future list of candidates for MEPs not to enter political parties involved, but irrelevant political caste professionals. . Furthermore: Freedom Party urged selflessly throughout structures to activate their work during the campaign so that they support nepartiyni candidates, but in favor of a new political morality. P. Chernev personally withdrew many of his proposed candidacy for leader of the leaves and even declares that the Freedom Party is NOT raising their applications.

. Latest news two months of silence or multiword circumlocution and ubyagvaniya concrete answers on the part of Jens-Peter Bond and his nearest Bliznakov.

Izborite near, but no clarity on important issues At this meeting we Svoboda announced that support any consensus arranged leaves, approve spusnatata Brussels Nikolai Bliznakov nomination for leader of the leaves, not made any party candidate. It appeared that on May 1 in Rome will be constitutive of Congress Libertas. Bliznakov said that Bulgaria should go at least 100 people. were even more willing. The trip is organized by Nikolai Bliznakov. . The last time he said that "Brussels has decided" the driver of the leaves to travel to Rome by plane, the rest of the group - with a bus in Greece, hence the ferry to Italy and from there yet again 600 kilometers by bus to Rome. We at Freedom offered a cheap alternative for charter flights Sofia - Rome by 108 euros per person, but from the headquarters of our Bliznakov was answered that no such separate money from Brussels.

. Thus in the first division team of Libertas in Bulgaria was available. "Plebeian" who decided to Bliznakov storm leaves traveled by African slaves in the fucking bus and damaged in cargo ship without a sleeping berth in the Adriatic stood hours in the rain on the street in Bari, Italy, after one final AT bus broke down and finally destroyed by the incoming nerves and fatigue at 4 am in Rome were housed in the building vans without toilets and running water for a € 1 bed!

At this time selected "candidate - the leader of the leaves otmaryashe five-star hotel after their flight suits and abundant dinner with Bond.

. Meanwhile, P. Chernev P. Stoev and Vladimir Simeonov traveled by car to Rome for his own account. Neither penny is not received by Libertas journeys of members of the national leadership of Freedom.

Scandal of May 1st in the congress hall was spectacular. . It turns out that Libertas no order to travel by bus, on the contrary, he was a separate budget of at least 270 euros per person for travel from Bulgaria. . Became clear that the companies identified by Bliznakov and thoses close to him ahad received money from Libertas for transport, as these amounts were approximately 126 euros per person. Became clear that all companies listed on Bliznakov and his relatives are "arranged" stay in Rome for the Bulgarian delegation (caravans for € 1). Chernev loud Bliznakov and condemn its "Headquarters" for all and urged organizers of the congress before someone take care of people. Organiztsiya was established immediately, all were placed on a good hotel, got lunch and dinner at the expense of Libertas. Declan Ganli personally met with the Bulgarian delegation, having apologized repeatedly for survivors inconvenience. . Return flight, for the people was paid by Libertas. . Nikolai Bliznakov was made to give your plane ticket to leave Sofia and Rome by bus.

Congress itself, as the representative of Bulgaria, signed Pavel Chernev founding document establishing the European Movement "Libertas" on behalf of the Freedom Party and declares full support in this area of our new priyateli.Vsichko was taken to the reel and will be available a Alas, immediately after leaving our delegation from Rome, the intrigue of the headquarters of Bliznakov started. . Personally, Jens-Peter Bond started a campaign of vilification against Freedom and Chernev. The main argument in this case is that the people of Freedom and Chernev were "too aggressive" and "uncontrolled" and that the whole problem in Rome were not jumble and misery in travel and indignation of the people and Pavel Chernev?

In recent days are run by Freedom pigwash tones of Bonde and his protezheta from "headquarters" of Bliznakov. ! In this campaign, mainly low figure was Vladimir Berzoev - functionary of the entourage of Prime proving apparent connection to anything ever happened is a puppeteer from Dondukov 2!

Since May 7 Bulgaria secretly was sent the personal secretary of Bond - Manuel. This was disclosed by the management of Freedom and head immediately by Libertas TE required to be met. By Manuel us was reported that, despite everything, it was decided by the Heads of LIBERTAS leader of the list of Bulgaria to be Nikolai BLIZNAKOV!

. The leadership of Freedom, after consultation and received support from regional leaders and local guides provide Libertas clear signal that this decision is deemed to be made opaque, so that violate the principles around which united to Rome. ! Freedom firm said it would support any list, provided it is consensual and supported by all, even the smallest organizations supporting Libertas in Bulgaria! . While we make of this freedom, Pavel Chernev become a direct witness of the ongoing arrangements and actions Bliznakov with Bonde in the direction he is leader of the leaves. . A culmination of 11may, the penultimate day of registration before TSIKEP. I arrived in Sofia Jesper Katts, special envoy of Libertas. Той категорично заяви следното : He categorically stated the following:

. 1.Pavel Chernev and Freedom have, according to Jens-Peter Bond an "image problem" that requires the freedom to escape from the election has already formed a coalition Libertas - free citizens.

2.Opredelen from the Libertas driver leaf Nikolay Bliznakov

3 Freedom Party "is a" second place (although this one was not requested by us!)

answer to the Freedom Party is not delayed: This is dictation, that WE WILL NOT AGREE!

Immediately out of the coalition Libertas - free citizens, followed by a single senior citizen Union party, the Union of Invalids in Bulgaria and the Union of mothers. The next day -12 May izskochi to light a new coalition agreement, concluded on April 21 2009g.mezhdu party the Movement for Civic Initiatives and Agricultural Narodnyashkata Party of the famous criminal F. Temelkova! This contract in full confidentiality and integrity of each section was the last and final proof of the complete lack of morality in Bliznakov Berzoev it.n staff of Dondukov 2, Union with his mentor - Bonde.

: Naturally, all this came after the failure of Bliznakov and gang-and then consistently TSIKEP otazaha you to register this "coalition" for the following reasons:

- Collected signatures did not meet the requirements of the law - collected are illegal or even criminal manner. (It is right to say that the structures of Freedom weeks gathered round thousands have signed in favor of Libertas)

- Has not paid a deposit called (of course, at the end of Libertas in Brussels proumyahya that without Freedom and people from civic associations are not running things!)

After all rules in Sofia proved the Even in the most advanced organistaionsare low lifes defeat all

- Libertas or rather the ideas of fear elite formation in Europe and in our death to use the services of political gnomove estimate Brezoevtsi and Bliznakovtsi to wrack and ruin such initiatives

Freedom Party is definitely a factor, frightening and unwanted by those elites!

Така или иначе, ние продължаваме. Nevertheless, we continue.

БОГ ДА ПАЗИ БЪЛГАРИЯ God save BULGARIA

Jens Peter Bonde , Libertas and the Bulgarian Far Right

Picture: from left to right: P. Stoev, (Libertas founder) Jens-Peter Bonde, K. Sholdev, Vl. Симеонов.Пловдив 27.Април Simeonov.Plovdiv 27.April
The below is a bizarre tale of how Libertas actively recruit from the far right and how they treat their supporters once they are no use to them.

Feb 2007:
NEW FREEDOM PARTY
Pavel Chernev, formerly a member of Parliament for ultra-nationalist party Ataka, established his own political party on February 10. The new party is called the Freedom Party (FP). Chernev was elected as party chairman. The main goal of the new party was declared to be opposition to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which is supported mainly by Bulgarians of Turkish descent. The FP will contribute to Bulgarian patriotism, Chernev said. The party will support Ataka in Bulgaria's European Parliament elections in May. The launch of the party was attended by Krassimir Karakachanov, leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, Lyuben Dilov, leader of the right-wing Gergyovden, Dimitar Abadjiev, leader of the right-wing European Democratic Way movement, representatives of Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov's party GERB and members of Austria's Freedom Party.

http://sofiaecho.com/article/national-briefs/id_20631/catid_5

Ordinary Freedom Party of Bulgaria members and other Libertas supporters were invited to attend the Libertas rally in Rome.

About 90 or so travelled by bus and ferry (a freight ferry, not a regular passenger ferry) to Italy, had a breakdown at Bari, then had to be brought by the Italian police to Rome, where they found that their accommodation consisted of broken-down '€1' per night standard caravans with no proper sanitary facilities.

In the meantime, the person finally chosen by Libertas to lead the combined 'Libertas: Free Citizens' list in Bulgaria, Nikolai Bliznakov, had travelled to Rome by plane and was staying in a hotel.

Stories on the Freedom Party of Bulgaria website allege that he'd been given money to pay for some of the travel and accommodation expenses of the Bulgarian delegation to the Libertas rally in Rome, but didn't exactly go out of his way to ensure a comfortable trip for them!

Allegedly, after a complaint from the Bulgarians, and Ganley's personal intervention, things were sorted out.

However, Bliznakov was no longer very popular with the Freedom Party (I wonder why?!) and when Jens-Peter Bonde's assistant allegedly travelled to Bulgaria to inform them that Bliznakov would be the first on the 'Libertas: Free Citizens' list in Bulgaria, they were not impressed, especially as they allege that the decision was not made in consultation with them, but imposed by the Libertas leadership.

They pulled out of the proposed deal with Libertas, who went ahead and tried to register a list of candidates (headed by Bliznakov) for the European Parliament elections in Bulgaria anyway.

However, the Bulgarian electoral authorities wouldn't register the list since the requirement to deposit 100,000 Leva (about €50,000) and other requirements of Bulgarian electoral law hadn't been met.

An appeal was made to the Bulgarian courts but definitively rejected and 'Libertas: Free Citizens' won't be competing in the European elections in Bulgaria.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertas_Bulgaria

Libertas affair in Bulgaria.

History.

February-May 2009. by Sholdev Krassimir



I heard the name Jens-Peter Bond for the first time in one night around 21.00 in February.

Maybe 05.02.2009. Byahme with Pavel Chernev.


Izzvanya his mobile phone.

Chernev, surprised by the unknown number, spoke in English.

Jens-Peter Bond was ringing, long European Parliament from Denmark.

Then I realized it was known as "Mr. Transparency". Tchernev to hear the answers.

After the meeting I got the details. Emerging pan-European party Libertas needed signature of Bulgarian MP for its registration requirement in accordance with seven of seven member countries to support them.

Chernev to understand that not supporting the Lisbon Treaty, which is their primary objective.

For about three hours after more talks.

Bond offered in partnership with participating in a very good evroizborite funding Bryuksel.Utochniha the next day to arrive from Plovdiv man carrying a special form.

The meeting, which are present are held the next day at 11.00 o'clock.

the building of Parliament.

Came face Nikolay Bliznakov.

Presented as a coordinator for Bulgaria of Libertas.

Documents are completed and sent from the offices of parliament to head Libertas in Brussels.

Bliznakov explained that the purpose of Libertas to participate in evroizborite, after obtaining registration from the European Commission.

Clear that they need political partners and gladly accepted the news that Pavel Chernev Party Chairman of Freedom. "

Chernev and explain how his party "Freedom" and unconditionally automatically become part of the Libertas after the signing of this declaration form.

The tale of generous funding of the election campaign.



After one months telephone conversations with these people and no meetings Pavel Chernev visit the office of Libertas in Brussels.

There has been welcomed by Bond, who explained vague phrases that will come to Bulgaria in March 2009 the fifth to meet with parties and NGOs.

It turns out that office work Libertas niece of Bliznakov.



Fifth of March 2009.

Bond met in Sofia with total assets of the Freedom Party.



At this meeting, with the help of Bond Bliznakov said it would seek as broad inclusion of people and organizations from civil society and that will be used mandatonositelki several parties for the campaign in Bulgaria.

Bliznakov presented to the Bond and several civilians, according to him suitable for evrolistata.
At this meeting the leadership of Freedom said that it will not broadcast its candidates evrolistata. From this position Freedom Party hold until the last day.

Bond promises of funding for the campaign.

Next stage.

In telephone conversations Bliznakov started talking about meeting with him on committees and civic associations to which Freedom was not invited.

Ever more strongly affirms the role of these associations and that parties will perform a minor role.



In April, the leadership of the Freedom Party went to the meeting of the Initiative Committee organized by Bliznakov in Plovdiv.

Shame meeting in a office where we were met with hostility by those attending.

Leading role in challenging behavior regard face Vladimir Brezoev.
Use verbal constructions type regard to a decision, you are very late, and others similar. There knew that the people gathered from Bliznakov discuss elections for Parliament, not heard of Libertas do not know the ideas of the party. Five minutes later the owner of the office lawyer vigorously out Brezoev, Bliznakov and the other as politely apologize to P. Chernev for the inconvenience.

Complete mess.



About 20.04.2009.

received a formal invitation from Libertas convention in Rome the first of May.

By organizing the journey began Bliznakov.Predlozhi bus.

Proposal from the party "Freedom" to help travel by plane depart.



On 27.04.2009.

Bond arrived.

Meeting in Plovdiv.

Bond said that a pan-European movement Libertas not receive registration evroizborite and benefit-mandatonositeli parties to participate in evroizborite.

About DGI partners are attracted by Stefan Peev from Sofia and the Union of Pensioners of Chaprazov from Stara Zagora. Launch out Bond stressed their opposition to the ongoing official from Brussels' policy decisions behind closed doors, "blamed opacity in Brussels and in the absence of responsibility. Bond Bliznakov announced the driver of the leaves and consider restaurant table proposals on Bliznakov handbill for other candidates. In "silent" call Bond said that the registration campaign in Bulgaria and were granted 270 000 (two hundred and seventy thousand) euro and that is responsible for the money appointed Bliznakov. Meduvremenno IP Freedom, DGI and retired Union signed an agreement on a coalition mandatonositelsvo "Libertas-free citizens" Agreement has not yet been denounced and should be in force at the time!



On 28.04.2009.
afternoon at a press conference at BTA Bond explained the open door policy and transparency of Libertas.

Of 29.04.2009.

approximately ninety Libertas activists of Bulgaria, of which twelve of the Freedom Party, went by bus organized by Bliznakov.

However Pavel Chernev and V. P. Stoev. Simeonov departed to Rome by car to Chernev own costs.

Due to special circumstances I do not travel.

From stories of the bus passengers got their premezhdiya.

Traveled with a freight ferry, in poor conditions.

Near the town of Bari one bus and injured people remain in the rain. Italian police probably regrets activists on their own account and transported them to Rome with two police buses.

Organized by Bliznakov sleeping in building wagons for one euros bed without sanitary facilities, without food or water. Bliznakov travel by plane and is accommodated in a luxury four-star hotel.



With the arrival Pavel Chernev heard from phone calls to premezhdiyata of activists, to raise questions

management of Libertas, which greatly worried, accommodation in comfortable hotels Bulgarians.

Pavel Chernev the conference signed the founding document of Libertas on behalf of Bulgaria.

After returning to Bulgaria PP Freedom attempts to initiate meetings with other players and especially Bliznakov.

In vain!

On side roads PP Freedom perceived that the seventh of May in Sofia emisar coming from Brussels.

Sue after meeting with the person saw Manuel, assistant to Bond. Manuel tried to understand the reasons for the scandal arising from the actions of Bliznakov be stubbed scandal.

Despite strong disapproval to Bliznakov working for the cause of Libertas, Manuel announced the "decision" of Libertas: Bliznakov is the leader of leaves.

When asked who took that decision, the answer was: Libertas.



On 11.05.2009.
Sofia arrived another man from Libertas Yesper-Kats you want to talk privately with Pavel Chernev.

In the conversation said that Bliznakov was appointed leader of the leaves and the IP Freedom to withdraw due to "image problem" of Pavel Chernev .......?



Registration: The secret added under unknown circumstances and DGI NZP "Nikola Petkov" Agreement mandatonositelstvo last minute and bring twenty-one thousand signatures without details, the disabled.

Bliznakov not submitted financial deposit, as recorded by a special notice that the amount is unbearable.


Krassimir Sholdev, chief negotiator in the form "Libertas" Party of Freedom "

Allegedly, Jens-Peter Bonde has been acting as a fixer,trying to entice this party into becoming part of the Libertas machine by promising them funding to run candidates under the Libertas name and/or to support the Libertas application to become a registered European level party.

It also is obvious that Libertas allegedly attempted to impose an unacceptable leader, Bliznakov, for their proposed alliance in Bulgaria, without consulting their prospective 'partners'.

Not only that, but no decent accommodation for most of the Bulgarian delegates to the Rome rally was arranged until after Libertas were informed that they were staying somewhere 'without sanitary facilities, without food or water', although Bliznakov was staying in a 'four-star hotel'.

See Freedom party galleries here

The rise of fascism in Austria? Ganley and Libertas' Austrian supporters featured in Daily Mail article today

Accountability, transparency, No to the elites, No to nameless bureaucrats Is Joseph Goebbels and the Big Lie the inspiration for Libertas's pared down empty rhetoric? It was defined by Adolf Hitler in his 1925 autobiography Mein Kampf as a lie so "colossal" that no one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously".

The far right is on the rise in Austria according to the Daily Mail. It is noteworthy that Libertas and Declan Ganley have received support from some of the subject of todays feature article
see Libertas and its letters from Austria in the Sunday Business Post in Ireland from Sunday, May 25, 2008.

If its links to the US military are unlikely to endear Libertas to the mostly (but by no means exclusively) left-wing opponents of the Lisbon Treaty, then other links that Ganley has fostered may be more disquieting to them. Two weeks ago, he travelled to Austria to join a demonstration by a group called Rettet Österreich (Save Austria), which delivered a petition to the Irish embassy, urging Ireland to vote No to the Lisbon Treaty.

The group is currently organising a letter-writing campaign in Austria, where it supplies the names and addresses of Irish citizens to anyone who logs on to its website. The group urges people to send a letter - it supplies the text in English - to the names and addresses it provides.

The letter then warns Irish citizens that the EU is a ‘‘military alliance’’, and says that a ‘‘separate EU tax could be introduced’’. Rettet Österreich says that it is the largest group in Austria campaigning for a referendum on the treaty. The group claims that it has been ‘‘defamed’’ by media reports describing it as an extreme rightwing group. It has lodged a complaint with the state broadcaster.

What is clear, however, is that Rettet Österreich is supported by some far-right and neo-Nazi groups. At a rally held on March 14 in Vienna, members of the right-wing Freedom Party (formerly led by Jörg Haider) and the far-right National People’s Party supported the Rettet Österreich campaign, according to reports in right-wing newsletters. The Freedom Party is a rightwing party, elected to government as part of a coalition in 2000.The party has since split, and Haider has left.

The National People’s Party (NVP) is a neo-Nazi organisation, which extols race theory and campaigns for an end to EU membership for Austria. According to its website, the party is also currently running a campaign in the city of Linz against the proposed construction of a mosque - which it describes as a ‘‘pig-mosque’’ or ‘‘mosque for pigs’’.

The Freedom Party (FPO) attended the commemoration yesterday at the grave of Luftwaffe air ace Major Walter Nowotny whose anniversary also coincides with the Goebbel's inspired Kristallnacht, the ‘night of broken glass’ in 1938 when 92 people were murdered and thousands attacked across Germany as storm troopers set upon Jews. The FPO "puppetmaster" is the Nazi and former SS officer Herbert Schweige . Described to Billy Briggs of the Daily mail as the ‘Puppet Master’ of the far right, Schweiger, 85, is a legendary figure for neo-Nazis across the world.
‘Our time is coming again and soon we will have another leader like Hitler,’ he says.

Is Declan Ganley trying to fill that role ?

The Freedom Party leader Heinz Christian Strache whose party supported
materially Ganley's No campaign in Ireland through Rettet Österreich.

The Daily Mail

The far right is on the march again: the rise of fascism in Austria.


In Austria's recent general election, nearly 30 per cent of voters backed extremist right-wing parties. Live visits the birthplace of Hitler to investigate how Fascism is once again threatening to erupt across Europe.

by BILLY BRIGGS

Last updated at 11:32 PM on 14th March 2009

* Comments (0)
* Add to My Stories

Supporters of far right leader Heinz Christian Strache (pictured in the flyers held aloft by the man at the front) gather at a rally in Vienna

Supporters of far right leader Heinz Christian Strache (pictured in the flyers held aloft by the man at the front) gather at a rally in Vienna

Beneath a leaden sky the solemn, black-clad crowd moves slowly towards a modest grey headstone. At one end
of the grave, a flame casts light on the black lettering that is engraved on the marble. At the other end, an elderly soldier bends down to place flowers before standing to salute.

From all over Austria, people are here to pay their respects to their fallen hero. But the solemnity of the occasion is cut with tension. Beyond the crowd of about 300, armed police are in attendance. They keep a respectful distance but the rasping bark of Alsatians hidden in vans provides an eerie soundtrack as the crowd congregates in mist and light rain.

We’ve been warned that despite a heavy police presence journalists have often been attacked at these meetings. If trouble does come then the mob look ready to fight. There are bull-necked stewards and young men who swagger aggressively.
Heinz Christian Strache

The Freedom Party leader Heinz Christian Strache

This is a neo-Nazi gathering and in the crowd are some of Austria’s most hard-faced fascists. Among them is Gottfried Kussel, a notorious thug who was the showman of Austria’s far-right movement in the Eighties and Nineties until he was imprisoned for eight years for promoting Nazi ideology.

Today he cuts a Don Corleone figure as he stands defiantly at the graveside. His neo-Nazi acolytes make sure no one comes near him and our photographer is unceremoniously barged out of his way.

Ominous-looking men with scars across their faces whisper to each other and shake hands. These are members of Austria’s Burschenschaften, an arcane, secretive organisation best known for its fascination with fencing, an initiation ceremony that includes a duel in which the opponents cut each other’s faces, and for its strong links to the far right.

Incredibly, standing shoulder to shoulder with these hard-line Nazi sympathisers are well known Austrian politicians. At the graveside, a speech is made by Lutz Weinzinger, a leading member of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), who pays tribute to the fallen.

This is a gathering in memory of an Austrian-born Nazi fighter pilot, who during WWII shot down 258 planes, 255 of them Russian. Such was Major Walter Nowotny’s standing at the time of his death in 1944 that the Nazi Party awarded him a grave of honour in Vienna’s largest cemetery, close to the musical legends Mozart, Brahms and Strauss.

But in 2005 that honour was revoked and his body moved to lie in an area of public graves. The decision infuriated the far right and made their annual pilgrimage an even greater event.

Today, the anniversary of Nowotny’s death, also coincides with Kristallnacht, the ‘night of broken glass’ in 1938 when 92 people were murdered and thousands attacked across Germany as stormtroopers set upon Jews in an outpouring of Nazi violence.

Some 70 years on from that infamous pogrom, the world faces a similar financial crisis to the one that precipitated the rise of Hitler and, in chilling echoes of Thirties Europe, support for far-right groups is exploding. Hitler’s birthplace has become the focus for neo-Nazis across the world.

And so I have come to Austria to investigate how Fascism and extremism are moving, unchecked, into the forefront of its society.

Last September, Austria’s far right gained massive political influence in an election that saw the FPO along with another far right party – Alliance For The Future (BZO) – gain 29 per cent of the vote, the same share as Austria’s main party, the Social Democrats. The election stirred up terrifying memories of the rise of the Nazi Party in the Thirties.

And just as the Nazis gained power on the back of extreme nationalism and virulent anti-Semitism, the recent unprecedented gains in Austria were made on a platform of fear about immigration and the perceived threat of Islam. FPO leader Heinz Christian Strache, for example, described women in Islamic dress as ‘female ninjas’.

Emboldened by the new power in parliament, neo-Nazi thugs have desecrated Muslim graves. Recently, in Hitler’s home town of Braunau, a swastika flag was publicly unveiled.
Austrian far right leader Heinz Christian Strache addresses a rally

Austrian far right leader Heinz Christian Strache addresses a rally

The FPO wants to legalise Nazi symbols, while its firebrand leader has been accused of having links to far right extremists.

After the FPO’s election victory, Nick Griffin, leader of the British Nationalist Party (BNP), sent a personal message to Strache.

‘We in Britain are impressed to see that you have been able to combine principled nationalism with electoral success. We are sure that this gives you a good springboard for the European elections and we hope very much that we will be able to join you in a successful nationalist block in Brussels next year.’

The message followed on from a secret meeting last May in which a high-ranking FPO politician paid a visit to London for a meeting with Griffin.

The relationship between the FPO and the BNP becomes more worrying as I learn of the strong links between Austria’s political party and hard-line Nazis.
Former Waffen SS officer and unrepentant Nazi Herbert Schweiger

Former Waffen SS officer and unrepentant Nazi Herbert Schweiger

Herbert Schweiger makes no attempt to hide his Nazi views. At his home in the Austrian mountains, the former SS officer gazes out of a window to a view of a misty alpine valley. Described to me as the ‘Puppet Master’ of the far right, Schweiger, 85, is a legendary figure for neo-Nazis across the world.

‘Our time is coming again and soon we will have another leader like Hitler,’ he says.

Still remarkably sharp-minded, Schweiger was a lieutenant in the infamous Waffen SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, an elite unit originally formed before WWII to act as the Führer’s personal bodyguards.

This is his first interview for four years and the first he has ever given to a journalist from outside Austria. It happens a few weeks before he is due to appear in court charged with promoting neo-Nazi ideology.

It will be the fifth time he has stood trial for breaking a law, the Verbotsgesetz, enacted in 1947 to halt the spread of fascist ideology. He has been found guilty twice and acquitted twice. It quickly becomes apparent that little has changed in Schweiger’s mindset since his Third Reich days.

‘The Jew on Wall Street is responsible for the world’s current economic crisis. It is the same now as in 1929 when 90 per cent of money was in the hands of the Jew. Hitler had the right solutions then,’ he says, invoking the language of Goebbels.

The room is filled with mementos from his past and indicators of his sickening beliefs. His bookshelf is a library of loathing. I spot a book by controversial British Holocaust denier David Irving and one on the ‘myth of Auschwitz’. On a shelf hangs a pennant from the SS Death’s Head unit that ran Hitler’s concentration camps. Such memorabilia is banned in Austria but Schweiger defiantly displays his Nazi possessions.

If Schweiger was an old Nazi living out his final days in this remote spot, it might be possible to shrug him off as a now harmless man living in his past. But Schweiger has no intention of keeping quiet.

‘My job is to educate the fundamentals of Nazism. I travel regularly in Austria and Germany speaking to young members of our different groups,’ he says.

Schweiger’s lectures are full of hate and prejudice. He refers to Jews as ‘intellectual nomads’ and says poor Africans should be allowed to starve.

‘The black man only thinks in the present and when his belly is full he does not think of the future,’ he says. ‘They reproduce en masse even when they have no food, so supporting Africans is suicide for the white race.

‘It is not nation against nation now but race against race. It is a question of survival that Europe unites against the rise of Asia. There is an unstoppable war between the white and yellow races. In England and Scotland there is very strong racial potential.
Our time is coming again and soon we will have another leader like Hitler

‘Of course I am a racist, but I am a scientific racist,’ he adds, as if this is a justification.

Schweiger’s raison d’être is politics. He was a founding member of three political parties in Austria – the VDU, the banned NDP and the FPO. He has given his support to the current leader of the FPO.

‘Strache is doing the right thing by fighting the foreigner,’ says Schweiger.

He is now in close contact with the Kameradschaften, underground cells of hardcore neo-Nazis across Austria and Germany who, over the past three years, have started to infiltrate political parties such as the FPO.

His belief that the bullet and the ballot box go hand in hand goes back to 1961, when he helped to train a terrorist movement fighting for the reunification of Austria and South Tyrol.

‘I was an explosives expert in the SS so I trained Burschenschaften how to make bombs. We used the hotel my wife and I owned as a training camp,’ he says. The hotel he refers to is 50 yards from his home.

Thirty people in Italy were murdered during the campaign. One of the men convicted for the atrocities, Norbert Burger, later formed the now-banned neo-Nazi NDP party with Schweiger.

Schweiger’s involvement earned him his first spell in custody in 1962 but he was acquitted.
A gathering of the Burschenschaften, a secretive nationalist group with far-right tendencies

A gathering of the Burschenschaften, a secretive nationalist group with far-right tendencies

At Vienna’s Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance (DOW), I speak to Heribert Schiedel, who monitors neo-Nazi activity. He tells me that the glue between people like Schweiger and the politicians are the Burschenschaften fraternities. Schiedel draws two circles and explains.

‘In the circle on the left you have legal parties such as the FPO. In the circle on the right you have illegal groups. Two distinct groupings who pretend they are separate.’

He draws another circle linking the two together. ‘This circle links the legal and illegal. This signifies the Burschenschaften. They have long been associated with Fascism and have a history of terrorism. Adolf Eichmann, Rudolf Hess and Heinrich Himmler were Burschenschaften – as are prominent members of the FPO in parliament.’

There are Burschenschaften groups all over Austria and 18 in the capital alone. Their activities range from quaint to disturbing.

At the University of Vienna, members of the Burschenschaften come to pay homage to a statue called the Siegfriedskopf (the Head of Siegfried, a warrior from German mythology). Their ritual takes place every Wednesday.
The university authorities wanted to remove the statue, but the government insisted it should stay as it is a protected monument. Instead, the piece was relocated to the courtyard.

Today, the Burschenschaften have been prevented from entering the courtyard and at the main entrance police stand guard as they hand out leaflets. Dressed in traditional uniforms, the Burschenschaften resemble colourful bandsmen and are a far cry from the shaven-headed thugs normally associated with Fascism.

But the groups have a 200-year-old history steeped in patriotism and loyalty to a German state. In 2005, Olympia, one of the most extreme Burschenschaften fraternities, invited David Irving to Austria.

As other students gather, there is tension in the air. One girl whispers that this group recently attacked students protesting outside the Austrian Parliament against the FPO.

A young student with round glasses and a scar on his left cheek, wearing the purple colours of Olympia, is handing out leaflets. Roland denies being a neo-Nazi but he quickly starts relaying his fiercely nationalist views.
Gottfried Kussel (second from right) among the gathering at the grave of WWII Nazi pilot Walter Nowotny

Gottfried Kussel (second from right) among the gathering at the grave of WWII Nazi pilot Walter Nowotny

‘The anti-fascists are the new fascists,’ he says. ‘We are not allowed to tell the truth about how foreigners are a threat.’

The truth, according to Roland, is that Muslims, immigrants and America are destroying his way of life.

‘We are German-Austrians. We want a community here based on German nationalism,’ he adds. ‘We must fight to save our heritage and culture.’

The Burschenschaften hold regular, secretive meetings in cellar bars around Vienna. Journalists are not usually admitted, but I manage to persuade a group of Burschenschaften students to let me see their traditions. Once inside, I find myself in a bar filled with 200 men sitting at long tables drinking steins of Austrian beer.

The Burschenschaften are resplendent in the colours of their fraternities. Old and young, they sport sashes in the black, red and gold of the German flag, and as the beer flows in this neo-Gothic building, chatter fills the room and cigarette smoke rises in plumes up to chandeliers hung from a vaulted ceiling.

‘Prost!’ the man sitting to my right toasts loudly. His name is Christian. He is no neo-Nazi thug, but instead a psychology student. His white peaked cap signifies that he is a member of a Burschenschaften group called Gothia.
Most of the men at this table are Gothia, including the man sitting opposite who ordered the beer. He glares at me again. He has long scars on both sides of his face that run from his cheekbones down to the edges of his mouth, and when he sucks on his cigarette he reminds me of the Joker from Batman. Christian has a dozen wounds from fencing, including five on his left cheek.

‘It is a badge of honour to duel,’ he says proudly, before explaining that this is an annual event and that one of tonight’s speeches will be on the ‘threat of Islam to Europe’.

Suddenly, everyone at our table stands amazed as FPO leader Heinz Christian Strache enters.

He is wearing a royal blue hat – signifying his membership of the Vandalia Burschenschaften – and after shaking hands with each of us he sits at the far end of the table. Shortly afterwards I’m asked to leave.

Although the Burschenschaften claims to be politically neutral, FPO flyers had been placed in front of each guest and it was clear this event was a political rally in support of the FPO – an event that would culminate with these Austrians, including a leading politician, singing the German national anthem.

After my encounter with the leader of the FPO among the Burschenschaften, I contact Strache’s press office to question his membership of an organisation linked to far right extremism, and ask why the FPO wishes to revoke the Verbotsgesetz (the law banning Nazi ideology).

In a response by email, Mr Strache replied that the FPO wants to revoke the Verbotsgesetz because it believes in freedom of speech. He denied having any links to neo-Nazi groups and says he is proud to be a member of the Burschenschaften.

‘The Burschenschaften was founded during the wars against Napoleon Bonaparte in the beginning of the 19th century. These are the historical origins I am proud of,’ he wrote.

Back at Nowotny’s graveside I think of the Puppet Master in his mountain home. How can a former Nazi still hold so much political sway? The Burschenschaften are here, too.

There are no ‘sieg heils’ and no swastikas for the cameras, but it’s clear that Fascism is back. These are not thugs merely intent on racial violence, who are easily locked up. These are intellectuals and politicians whose move to the forefront of society is far more insidious.

Through the political influence of the FPO it is entirely possible that the Verbotsgesetz could be revoked – and if that happens swastikas could once again be seen on Austria’s streets.

The ideas and racial hatred that I have heard over my two weeks in Austria are just as threatening and just as sickening as any I have ever heard. And they are a lot more sinister because they are spoken with the veneer of respectability.

The open defiance of these men honouring their Nazi ‘war hero’, and the support they are gaining in these troubled economic times, should be setting off alarm bells in Europe and the rest of the world.