Haider fails to recapture leadership

Joerg Haider failed today to recapture the top post of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party.

Haider – a controversial figure due to past remarks praising aspects of Adolf Hitler’s regime – led the party until 2000, when he stepped down to ease the controversy sparked by his party’s participation in the government.

Clearly unhappy with his back-seat role in national politics, Haider has pushed recently to recapture the position of party chairman from Herbert Haupt, telling Austrian media that he regretted stepping down.

“In retrospect, withdrawing from the party at the national level was a mistake,” said Haider, who remains governor of the southern province of Carinthia.

But at a meeting in the southern town of Deutschlandsberg, leaders of the anti-immigration and anti-European Union party voted to rebuff Haider’s attempt at a comeback.

In a secret vote, they decided to keep Haupt as chairman, at least until a general party congress scheduled for 2004.

The result of the vote was not revealed but Haupt said a large majority had voted in his favour, while four party leaders sided with Haider.