Haider quits as party leader

VIENNA: Europe's most successful far-right politician, Mr. Jorg Haider of Austria, is stepping down as party leader amid widespread scepticism that he will honour his pledge to stay out of politics at a national level. In his last interview as chairman of the Freedom Party, which governs in coalition with the conservative People's Party, Mr. Haider repeated claims that Austria might pull out of the ``decadent'' European Union if the political isolation did not end. The Socialist and Green parties say Mr. Haider's supposed climb-down at the height of his popularity is ``cheap theatrics''. They do not believe that he intends to concentrate on regional politics in Carinthia where he is Governor. In now handing over the reins to his deputy, Ms. Susanne Riess-Passer, 39 (in picture with Mr. Haider), Mr. Haider has promised a change in style, but not in content.

- @ Telegraph Group Limited, London, 2000.

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Section  : International
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