SPÖ lawmaker calls for Walch’s resignation over children’s name list

Tyrolean SPÖ lawmaker Bernhard Höfler has called for Innsbruck FPÖ councillor Fabian Walch to resign after Walch published a list of schoolchildren’s first names alongside a post about “remigration”, ORF reported.

The photographed list, shared on Instagram on Friday, contained 25 names from an Innsbruck compulsory school, including Jamal, Mohamad, Melek and Mia. In the caption, Walch wrote that people in Innsbruck were becoming a minority in their own city unless “remigration” began.

The Tyrolean Greens described the post as a call to deport children and called it a “racism scandal”. The Innsbruck SPÖ said it represented a breach of a taboo.

Höfler said publishing children’s names while referring to “remigration” was an “unbelievable crossing of the line”. He said the children were first-graders, not political opponents, statistics or targets in a cultural conflict.

Walch told ORF Tirol that he was not calling for children to be deported. He said he wanted illegal immigrants and foreigners who had committed crimes to be returned to their countries of origin.

Höfler rejected that explanation, asking why Walch had needed children’s names to make that point. He said the names of first-graders had nothing to do with illegal residence or criminal activity and accused Walch of singling out children by their names to convey a political message.

Höfler also referred to Walch’s history studies, saying a historian should understand where political exclusion could lead. He said democracy began with respect for individual dignity and the protection of children, and called Walch unfit to remain in office. He also said Tyrolean FPÖ leader Markus Abwerzger had to accept responsibility.

Abwerzger declined to comment on the matter to ORF Tirol on Friday evening and referred to Walch’s statement. In an update to the post, Walch described the reaction as a “media campaign” and explained his understanding of “remigration”. He also wrote that the measures would be implemented without compromise while ensuring good family policy for “our own people”.

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