[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HAIDER'S INFLUENCE SEEN UNDIMINISHED

  (Mr. LANTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, in a few days, we in this House will be 
voting on a resolution I introduced concerning the new government of 
Austria. Since the leader of this party, which is the Austrian 
government, the racist, xenophobic, neo-Nazi party has now resigned, it 
may be useful to ask why did he do so. He did not do so because he does 
not want to be part of the unpleasant political decisions that will 
have to be taken in Austria, tax increases, cutbacks on spending, 
layoffs of large numbers of government employees, but he is still the 
top man of this racist, xenophobic political party.
  One of his principal allies, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Prinzhorn, 
yesterday said the following about his resignation: ``It is not a 
resignation. He is a provincial governor and remains our strong man. It 
is a step backwards which is necessary in order to make two solid steps 
forward.''
  I am urging all of my colleagues who have not yet cosponsored this 
resolution to come on board. We cannot allow the new Europe to have 
governments in which neofascist parties play a key role. The European 
Union has expressed itself; it is time we do so.

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