Austria: Opposition protest march in Vienna January 13

Event

A coalition of left-wing opposition political groups are planning to hold an anti-government demonstration and march in Vienna on Saturday, January 13. The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 14:00 (local time) at the Christian Broda Platz (Europaplatz), near the Wien Westbahnhof subway station. The demonstrators will then proceed down Mariahilfer Straße and Babenberger Straße to the Burgring road, before finishing at the Heldenplatz.

Event organizers anticipate that up to 10,000 people will participate in the demonstration. Police are reportedly deploying 1000 officers to ensure security around the demonstration, but expect the event to remain peaceful. However, significant transportation disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the demonstration.

Context

The demonstration is being organized by left-wing groups to denounce the government’s alleged racist, right-wing, and neo-fascist tendencies. Left-wing political groups in Austria are particularly critical of the government’s response to the European migration crisis and its alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers from the Middle East and North Africa. The current coalition government is composed of members of the center-right Austrian People’s Party and the far-right Freedom Party of Austria.

Advice

Individuals in Vienna are advised to avoid any demonstrations as a precaution, to anticipate transportation disruptions, and to report any suspicious behavior or objects to the police.