Instagram Post by the ÖVP Causes Outrage

A social media post by the People's Party on the results of the Integration Barometer caused discontent on Sunday - even among coalition partners SPÖ and NEOS.

The red Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer even apologized via Bluesky with the words: "Sorry! We are not like that." Criticism also came from Green leader Leonore Gewessler, who sees this as defaming Muslim people in Austria.

ÖVP Post on Integration Barometer Causes Discontent

The subject was published two days ago on the official Instagram account of the People's Party, after the results of the Integration Barometer, commissioned by the Integration Fund, were presented. In large letters on a black background, it reads: "Did you know that two-thirds find living together with Muslims difficult?"

Marterbauer took offense at this. The red Finance Minister let his coalition partner know: "My sympathy goes, for example, to colleagues from Bosnia who fled to Austria from the war, have been working here for decades as key contributors in care, hospitals, trade, or industry, pay taxes, raise their children, and then have to read something like this. Sorry! We are not like that."

Criticism Also from NEOS and Greens

The reaction from the pink coalition partner was similar in tone. NEOS club chairman Yannick Shetty let the People's Party know: "Anyone who places all Muslims under general suspicion is consciously dividing society and thereby promoting both right-wing extremists and Islamists equally." This is "fundamentally wrong and politically extremely clumsy."

Green leader Gewessler also did not hold back with criticism: "Anyone who problematizes entire population groups indiscriminately is engaging in conscious division." Politics has the task of "strengthening cohesion and commonality - and not sowing distrust. That people who have lived, worked, and been part of our society in Austria for decades have to read something like this is shameful," criticized Gewessler. This is "unworthy" of a chancellor party.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.