Mayors back cross-party campaign against far-right extremism

Two Vöcklabruck groups have launched a poster campaign against far-right extremism, backed by mayors from the ÖVP, SPÖ and Green Party in the Salzkammergut. ORF reported that the initiative, titled “I am an anti-fascist”, was presented in Linz on Tuesday.

The posters are intended to appear in public places and make anti-fascism more widely accepted, rather than associating it with the far left, said Sonja Lang of the Vöcklabruck Alliance Against the Right. One of four designs says: “Anti-fascism means solidarity, respect, human rights, tolerance and civic courage.”

Frederik Schmidsberger of the Vöcklabruck Mauthausen Committee said the campaign was deliberately directed against far-right extremism, which he called one of the greatest current threats to democracy. He described anti-fascism as a “civic duty”. Mayors supporting the initiative include those of Bad Ischl and Vöcklabruck, both governed by the SPÖ, Gmunden’s ÖVP mayor and Attersee’s Green mayor.

The organizers cite 1,986 far-right offences recorded in Austria in 2025, including 350 in Upper Austria, according to the Interior Ministry’s report on the protection of the constitution. They also point to a secret meeting of the Identitarian Movement at Laudachsee, near Gmunden, in summer 2025.

Gmunden Mayor Stefan Krapf (ÖVP) called the Identitarians a far-right and fascist movement, saying groups that threaten peace, democracy and human rights must be opposed clearly. Attersee Mayor Rudi Hemetsberger (Greens) said the cross-party alliance was an important signal, while Vöcklabruck Mayor Peter Schobesberger (SPÖ) called protecting democracy, safety and respectful coexistence a shared responsibility. Bad Ischl Mayor Ines Schiller (SPÖ) also backed the campaign, saying that turning a blind eye was not an option.

The Vöcklabruck Mauthausen Committee said anti-fascism also reflects the Austrian State Treaty’s anti-fascist mandate and means actively supporting democracy, equality and human rights. The posters are due to be put up by 2027, and organizers hope to attract more mayors from beyond the Salzkammergut.