Juncker’s LECTURE for Austrian leader Kurz on far-right risk and ‘STUPID populism’

Mr Juncker also warned of the dangers of “stupid populism” and “narrow-minded nationalism” – a possible reference to Mr Kurz’ coalition partners, the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO).

Mr Juncker has enjoyed an awkward relationship with Mr Kurz, Europe’s youngest leader, a fact perfectly illustrated by footage showing the 31-year-old’s efforts to avoid one of the European Commission President’s infamous kisses.

But Mr Juncker nevertheless took the opportunity to issue a stern warning during his visit to the Austrian capital for a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Austria, held at the Palais Niederösterreich.

He told Mr Kurz and other assorted guests Austria had a “great future” – but said it also needed a heritage and a sense of history in order to be successful. If danger from the right continues to establish itself unrestrictedly, when stupid populism and narrow-minded nationalism march towards the future, one must get up and stop it while there is still time Jean-Claude Juncker He added: “If danger from the right continues to establish itself unrestrictedly, when stupid populism and narrow-minded nationalism march towards the future, one must get up and stop it while there is still time.”

In his speech, Mr Kurz praised the versatility of Austria and thanked all those who «make our country economically, and socially strong”, without directly responding to Mr Juncker’s comments about the far right.

He added: «We are a country that is firmly anchored in the European Union and willing to actively participate in shaping it.»

Other keynote speakers included Lower Austrian provincial governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, governor of Burgenland Hans Niessl and the governor of the city of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. Mr Niessl stressed the importance of European unification and the EU.

He proclaimed that after the fall of the «Iron Curtain», Austria’s accession to the EU represented a “historic step” which “opened up new opportunities and perspectives for Austria”.

He said all the bloc’s member states could be «proud of a decades-long success story that was only possible because the common was put before the dividing”.

Meanwhile Ms Mikl-Leitner picked up where Mr Juncker had left off, saying: “There should never again be war on our continent and we should do everything to protect and uphold peace, freedom and democracy, to keep the story alive, to learn from history and above all to draw the right conclusions for the design of this beautiful country in the present and in the future.» Mr Kurz may interpret Mr Juncker’s comments as a reference to his deal with the FPO, led by Heinz-Christian Strache, his vice-chancellor after last year’s general election.

Formed in 1956, the FPO’s first leader was Anton Reinthaller, a former Nazi party member and SS officer.

And later leader Jorg Haider, whose parents were also Nazi Party members, once praised the Third Reich “for having a proper employment policy”.

The FPO, which won 20.5 percent of the vote last year, favours reductions in immigration and has attacked what it has characterised as the “Islamisation” of Austria. Mr Strache has aligned himself with the anti-establishment Tea Party movement in the United States.

Mr Juncker and Mr Kurz were at odds in July after the Austrian chancellor unveiled plans to reinforce its southern borders and called on the German government to clarify its position on migration.

But in an apparent reference to Austria during a speech to the European Parliament, Mr Juncker said: “In 2008, protection of the external borders was proposed by the Commission to the member states and there where those then who opposed the idea of a European border protection force and several German speakers refused to allow this.”

Had this been done, he said, “we would have spared ourselves many of these problems”.

(Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg)