Austrian Firebrand Quits Post
Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider, who drew strong criticism for his visit to Iraq, said Friday that he would quit national politics and focus on his role as governor of Carinthia province.
Haider, whose meeting with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Tuesday was described as inappropriate by the United States, said he had quit his position on the policymaking committee of Austria’s coalition government.
Some members of the anti-immigration Freedom Party also criticized their populist former leader for the trip.
“I do not want to be seen as interfering and so I will quit national politics,” Haider told national broadcaster ORF after accusations from within his party that he meddled in leadership affairs despite quitting as party chief in 2000.
“I have left the committee as of today. I will concentrate on my role as governor of Carinthia,” he said.
The committee sets government policy and consists of members of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel’s conservative People’s Party and its coalition partner, the Freedom Party.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
