Mr. Joerg Haider, the controversial leader of Austria's Freedom Party, has resigned as head of the party. The move is intended to quiet the firestorm of international criticism that followed the decision to include Freedom in the new coalition government in Vienna. In fact, it changes very little. Although Mr. Haider has been the focus of outrage, it is the party's participation in the Cabinet that is problematic. Handing over the position of party chairman does not change that fact. And given Mr. Haider's control of the party, it could compound the situation.
Having placed second in national elections held last year, it seemed only natural that the Freedom Party would join the government. However, the party's political positions are anti-immigrant and downright xenophobic. As such they clash with Austria's obligations as a member of the European Union. Worse, Mr. Haider's political career has been studded with comments that are sympathetic to the Nazis. In the past, he has praised Adolf Hitler's "orderly employment policies" and the soldiers that served in the Waffen SS.
This disqualified him and Freedom from government as far as the Social Democrats, Austria's largest party, were concerned. Unfortunately, the Social Democrats could not strike a deal with their longtime coalition partners, the People's Party. After months of fruitless negotiations, the People's Party turned to Freedom. They did reach agreement, and last month -- to the dismay of much of the world and the outrage of members of the European Union -- Freedom joined the Cabinet.