Asylum seekers will have to hand over cash and phones, Austria's new coalition says

A protester stands with stickers depicting the new coalition leaders and a sign behind him reading: "Nazis leave"
A protester stands with stickers depicting the new coalition leaders and a sign behind him reading: "Nazis leave" Credit: JOE KLAMAR/ AFP

Asylum seekers in Austria will have to hand over their mobile phones and money as part of an asylum application, Austria's new conservative and far-Right coalition announced.

Under the plan unveiled after the two parties were sworn in yesterday, Austria will seek to stop illegal immigration and ensure that people whose asylum claims are rejected are quickly deported. Asylum is "temporary protection" only, the policy states.

The money seized by authorities will apparently be used to cover basic care costs, while mobile phone data will be trawled through to clarify identities, the coalition said.

Austria’s far-Right Freedom Party secured its return to power yesterday (MON), as the president swore in the country’s new government amid protests on the streets of Vienna.

Sebastian Kurz, of the conservative People's Party (OVP), is now the new Austrian chancellor, after he reached a deal with the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO), which was founded by former members of the Nazi party, on Friday. Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the nationalist FPO will be the new vice chancellor.

Austria is now the only western European country with a far-right party in government. And at just 31, Kurz is the youngest leader in Europe, after his party won the October 15th election with 32 percent of the vote. The nationalist FPO came third with 26 percent of the vote.  

Mr Kurz won the election with a hard line on immigration that overlapped with the FPO. The future leaders presented their approximately 180-page government programme on Sunday, and said that they planned to do things “much better” and that “nobody had anything to fear”.

New Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is flanked by Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen, right, and new Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, left
New Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is flanked by Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen, right, and new Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, left Credit:  Ronald Zak/ AP

Mr Strache said on Facebook on Sunday that the new government will also slash benefits for asylum seekers. "It will no longer happen for migrants who have never worked here a single day or paid anything into the social system to get thousands of Euros in welfare," he wrote.

Austria should be a land of diversity, Mr Kurz also said – but pointed out that it should also have basic values that apply to all. The coalition’s motto is "time for the new", as they promise to establish a new political style in the country.  

In a speech to swear in the new chancellor, President Van der Bellen urged the coalition to adopt a responsible policy, especially towards minorities. "Working with the weakest shows what our values ​​are really worth," he said.  

Around 6,000 people packed out Heroes Square in the centre of Vienna to protest, according to police, waving placards that said “refugees welcome” and “no Nazi pigs”. There was also a heavy police presence, including helicopters and water cannon.

On Tuesday Mr Kurz will travel to Brussels to meet Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, and Donald Tusk, the president of the European Commission, amid widespread concern that Austria’s swing to the right will further exacerbate EU divisions.

Mr Kurz has already ruled out a referendum on membership of the European Union and stressed that the new government should be pro-EU, but last week he said he would follow countries such as Hungary and Poland in rejecting the bloc’s mandatory migrant relocation quotas. 

Mr Kurz has also emphasised that he wants to work in close cooperation with Germany. “We are very connected with Germany - human, economic, political and cultural,” he told Bild newspaper. “I look forward to further cooperation with the German federal government, in particular with Chancellor Angela Merkel,” he said.

But there has been mixed reaction in Germany. Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Angela Merkel, said "we are ready for a close and trusting cooperation." But that it “goes without saying” that this should always happen on the "basis of the values ​​that we have given for Europe". 

While the Social Democrats (SPD), with whom Mrs Merkel is hoping to form a new government, have reacted with horror. "Austria-Hungary is back. With Chancellor Kurz, fraternity member Strache and arsonist Orbán, it's three quarters to the right,” said Achim Post, SPD politician.

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