Senior members and supporters of Europe’s populist right parties met in Vienna on Friday to discuss the growing success of their movement, and their plans for the future of the European Union. Star of the show, a meeting to mark the first anniversary of the founding of the Europe of Nations and Freedoms group was French Front National leader Marine Le Pen, hosted in Vienna by Heinz-Christian Strache and Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria. Just weeks ago Mr. Hofer came within less than a percent of winning the Austrian presidential election, a result that is now being contested by his Freedom Party for Austria (FPO), over alleged rigged postal ballots. Despite there being no representation from British freedom-focussed party UKIP, Britain’s impending vote on their continued membership of the European Union figured large in proceedings, and Le Pen — who was introduced on-stage as the “future president of France” — made her enthusiasm for it clear. Explaining the massive resistance to Britain’s votes among the establishment and that she wanted to see the freedom bug spread across the continent, Le Pen said the elites of Europe “are scared that the United Kingdom is regaining its liberty, its freedom to trade
‘Elites of Europe Are Scared, UK Regaining Liberty’: Le Pen At Historic ‘Patriotic Spring’ Conference
Senior members and supporters of Europe’s populist right parties met in Vienna on Friday to discuss the growing success of their movement, and their plans for the future of the European Union. Star of the show, a meeting to mark the first anniversary of the founding of the Europe of Nations and Freedoms group was French Front National leader Marine Le Pen, hosted in Vienna by Heinz-Christian Strache and Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria. Just weeks ago Mr. Hofer came within less than a percent of winning the Austrian presidential election, a result that is now being contested by his Freedom Party for Austria (FPO), over alleged rigged postal ballots. Despite there being no representation from British freedom-focussed party UKIP, Britain’s impending vote on their continued membership of the European Union figured large in proceedings, and Le Pen — who was introduced on-stage as the “future president of France” — made her enthusiasm for it clear. Explaining the massive resistance to Britain’s votes among the establishment and that she wanted to see the freedom bug spread across the continent, Le Pen said the elites of Europe “are scared that the United Kingdom is regaining its liberty, its freedom to trade