By Askin Kiyagan
VIENNA (AA) - The political group "Liste Gaza," which is running in Austria's general elections on Sept. 29, aims to bring Palestine into the national spotlight through the ballot box with the slogan "Vote Against Genocide," in stark contrast to parties remaining silent over Israel's nearly 11-month-long onslaught against Palestinians.
Pro-Palestinian supporters in Austria, protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, have formed the "Liste Gaza" movement to enter the elections.
The group, uniting diverse civil organizations, will contest in seven of Austria's nine states.
- Formed to pay attention to Palestine
Sociologist Irina Vana told Anadolu that in May, as the election date became clearer, steps were taken to form a political movement to raise public awareness about the genocide.
Vana said that work on the movement began with the idea that the elections could be used to draw attention to Palestine and show that current political parties are complicit in the genocide.
She said that diverse groups united for a common goal, collecting signatures in the capital Vienna and other parts of the country to enter the elections, which were submitted to the electoral commission.
- Liste Gaza features notable figures
Vana highlighted that Liste Gaza’s candidates include well-known figures, notably historian and author Franz Sölkler, a Green Party founder who joined the movement after diverging from his party on Palestine.
Liste Gaza also features prominent figures like lawyer Astrid Wagner and activist Dalia Sarig-Fellner, she added.
Vana emphasized that the movement’s aim is to promote values like humanity and justice while addressing issues of marginalization and targeted security policies against Muslims.
- Liste Gaza calls for vote against genocide
Vana said the movement focuses on voting against genocide and urging the Austrian government to ensure a cease-fire in Palestine.
Writer Wilhelm Langthaler told Anadolu that Liste Gaza, like the Palestine Solidarity Platform, includes a diverse range of groups.
Langthaler highlighted Liste Gaza’s diverse support and its role as society’s conscience, emphasizing that the movement opposes genocide with civil courage and welcomes supporters from all parties.
He explained that the term "Stimme" in the movement's slogan means both "voice" and "vote" in German, emphasizing that by voting, supporters are raising their voices against genocide.
- Elections to help reach untapped audiences
Langthaler said Liste Gaza aims to transform five million ballots into promotional brochures about Gaza, emphasizing that this will make Gaza heard despite media limitations and help like-minded individuals express their support.
He said that while most of the Austrian public is troubled by the situation in Gaza and the government's stance, it is widely believed that any new government will not change its approach, highlighting the need for such a movement.
-Accused 'terror supporters' run for parliament
Langthaler, noting a significant shift, said that when they began demonstrations for Gaza in October 2023, the police and government accused them of being "terror supporters" and argued that they should not be allowed to protest.
He highlighted the shift in attitudes, stating that a year after being accused of supporting terrorism, the same pro-Palestinian activists are now running for parliament, with no way for authorities to prevent it.
He also suggested that while officials may have considered removing democratic processes like elections to exert control, they ultimately decided that the cost would be too high, allowing the candidacy to proceed.
Langthaler also criticized the 4% electoral threshold, noting that it unfairly prevents new groups from entering parliament.
However, he mentioned another way to bypass the threshold: if political scientist and educator Sali Attia, a candidate from three districts in southern Vienna with a large foreign population, receives 30,000 votes, Liste Gaza could gain representation in parliament.
Langthaler also announced that, in addition to demonstrations and political efforts, they plan to organize a Palestine Congress in Vienna on Oct. 5-6, with many participants, including Jewish scholars, to discuss Palestinian resistance and freedom.