Migration and crime top the list of topics that Austrians are most concerned about, a newly released survey reveals. The findings coincide with a legislative election campaign that has focused on the negative consequences of mass migration and how to deal with it.
According to an Ipsos survey, migration is the number one cause for concern for 43% of Austrians. In second place is crime, which is closely linked to migration, with 34%. That is followed by healthcare (32%), inflation (26%), and climate change (20%).
Migration was named as the biggest worry by only 29% of respondents in a survey conducted a year ago.
It is no wonder that the staunchly anti-immigration party, the FPÖ (the Freedom Party of Austria) has been riding high in the polls, and is projected to finish first with 27% of the votes at the national elections on Sunday, September 29th.
The governing centre-right ÖVP (People’s Party), polling at 25%, has also made the battle against illegal migration one of its main election themes, and the topic featured heavily in a TV debate between Chancellor Karl Nehammer and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl on Monday.
Migration has cost Austria a whopping €21.6 billion in ten years, with knife attacks and street fights between migrant groups becoming a part of everyday life in the country. The recent arrest of would-be Islamist terrorists who wanted to kill “as many people as possible” at a Taylor Swift concert, has only added to voters’ concerns.
Migratory pressure on Austria will only increase in the coming months after Germany announced that it would reintroduce temporary checks at all its borders to prevent illegal migrants from entering. Only last week, four Syrian migrants were deported straight back to Austria after they tried to enter Germany with the help of people smugglers.
The FPÖ has been campaigning on the concept of ‘Fortress Austria,’ meaning the party, if elected to government, would immediately suspend asylum applications, put in place a real border protection system, enable pushbacks, and consistently deport failed asylum seekers.
