Nationaldemokratische Partei (Austria, 1967–1988)
Encyclopedia
The National Democratic Party (Nationaldemokratische Partei, NPD) was a far-right political party in Austria
from 1967 until 1988 when its status was revoked for violating the country's anti-Nazi legislation
.
. Its first meeting as a national organisation took place in February 1967 in Linz
. The party was founded by Norbert Burger, former chairman of the FPÖ
wing Ring Freiheitlicher Studenten, who remained the key figure until its dissolution. Further members included Herbert Fritz, and a number of "South Tyrol
-Aktivists" (Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol). It was based on the German
sister party, the National Democratic Party of Germany
(NPD). Its first chairman was student Rudolf Watschinger.
The party ran in the 1970 Austrian legislative election
, receiving 2,631 (0.1%) of the votes cast. It advocated the Anschluss
of Austria into Germany and the re-introduction of the death penalty, it also agitated against "superalienation" and "infiltration" by foreign workers (Gastarbeiter
). Burger himself ran in the 1980 presidential election
"for a German Austria", gaining 140,741 votes (3.2%). Two years later he and Gerd Honsik initiated a petition for a referendum "against superalienation", which however was not achieved.
and Article 9 of the Austrian State Treaty
(Disbandment of Nazi Organisations), revoking its legal capacity as a political party. In its explanatory statement the court determined that the NDP's "Key principles and demands" are based on "biological-racist ideology ("'Volksbegriff'")" and also that its "pan-German Propaganda" is in agreement with the main goals of the NSDAP (Nazi Party).
As an association the NDP was officially disbanded on 21 November 1988.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
from 1967 until 1988 when its status was revoked for violating the country's anti-Nazi legislation
Verbotsgesetz 1947
The Verbotsgesetz 1947 abbreviated VerbotsG, is an Austrian constitutional law, which banned the Nazi Party and provided the legal framework for the process of denazification in Austria, as well as aiming to suppress any potential revival of Nazism.The law was amended in 1992 to prohibit denying...
.
Party History
The NDP was first registered as an association in 1966 in InnsbruckInnsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
. Its first meeting as a national organisation took place in February 1967 in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
. The party was founded by Norbert Burger, former chairman of the FPÖ
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
wing Ring Freiheitlicher Studenten, who remained the key figure until its dissolution. Further members included Herbert Fritz, and a number of "South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
-Aktivists" (Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol). It was based on the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sister party, the National Democratic Party of Germany
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
(NPD). Its first chairman was student Rudolf Watschinger.
The party ran in the 1970 Austrian legislative election
Austrian legislative election, 1970
Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 1 March 1970. The result was a victory for the Social Democratic Party, which won 81 of the 165 seats and was able to form a minority government that was tolerated by the Freedom Party of Austria in return for electoral reform that favoured smaller...
, receiving 2,631 (0.1%) of the votes cast. It advocated the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
of Austria into Germany and the re-introduction of the death penalty, it also agitated against "superalienation" and "infiltration" by foreign workers (Gastarbeiter
Gastarbeiter
Gastarbeiter is German for "guest worker." It refers to migrant workers who had moved to West Germany mainly in the 1960s and 70s, seeking work as part of a formal guest worker programme...
). Burger himself ran in the 1980 presidential election
Austrian presidential election, 1980
Presidential Elections were held in Austria on 18 May 1980. Incumbent president Rudolf Kirchschläger was re-elected with a landslide of 79.9% of the votes, being support by both major austrian Parties: the ruling Socialist Party of Austria and the opposition Austrian People's Party...
"for a German Austria", gaining 140,741 votes (3.2%). Two years later he and Gerd Honsik initiated a petition for a referendum "against superalienation", which however was not achieved.
Disbandment and prohibition
On 25 June 1988 the NDP was forbidden by a verdict of the Constitutional Court of Austria on the basis of the Verbotsgesetz 1947Verbotsgesetz 1947
The Verbotsgesetz 1947 abbreviated VerbotsG, is an Austrian constitutional law, which banned the Nazi Party and provided the legal framework for the process of denazification in Austria, as well as aiming to suppress any potential revival of Nazism.The law was amended in 1992 to prohibit denying...
and Article 9 of the Austrian State Treaty
Austrian State Treaty
The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government...
(Disbandment of Nazi Organisations), revoking its legal capacity as a political party. In its explanatory statement the court determined that the NDP's "Key principles and demands" are based on "biological-racist ideology ("'Volksbegriff'")" and also that its "pan-German Propaganda" is in agreement with the main goals of the NSDAP (Nazi Party).
As an association the NDP was officially disbanded on 21 November 1988.