“Outside Idiots” – Akademikerball delivered another surprise

In the past, the ball has been repeatedly accompanied by protests, some of which have been violent. In particular, 2014 saw extensive damage to property and a significant number of injured protesters and police officers. In the years that followed, however, the situation calmed down considerably. The demonstrators’ displeasure was always directed primarily at members of the German National Brotherhood, who had organized and shaped the event since 1952. Until 2012, the event was organized by the Wiener Korporationsring (WKR). After disagreements with the Vienna Hofburg, the FPÖ Vienna took over the organization, which then renamed it “Academic Ball”.

Critics praised the date
The fact that this year’s ball took place on the first anniversary of Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine had drawn criticism in advance. Hofer also regretted this when he arrived, but confirmed that the date for the start of the war had been set. It came as a surprise that he moved to the Hofburg with the socialite Lugner by his side – the two have been friends since taking office in the 2016 presidential election, they explained to journalists.

Where was Kickl?
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was not there. He is on a campaign tour for the state elections in Carinthia and is also “generally not a big balloper”, the party said beforehand. Furthermore, numerous active and former FPÖ politicians were guests – including FPÖ Secretary General Christian Hafenecker, FPÖ “veteran” Andreas Mölzer or FPÖ Viennese club boss Maximilian Krauss. Martin Sellner, spokesman for the “Identitarian Movement” classified as right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, was also present.

„Inside the patriots, outside the idiots.”
The media had limited access to the academic ball. It was “just a ball”, said Rosenkranz in his short speech – but: “It is our ball”, namely that of the third camp. Steviger put Viennese FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp in his speech. “Democracy and freedom dance here, extremism and communism riot outside.” To journalists, he said – explicitly to take notes: “Inside the patriots, outside the idiots.”

This meant the demonstrators – around 3,000 according to the organizers, around 2,500 according to the police – who had gathered in Sigmund Freud Park in the early evening and then moved to Morzinplatz. Organized by the platform “Offensive against the right”, they marched through the city under the motto “Throw fascists out of the Hofburg!”.

The protests were largely peaceful
The police was present with about 1,200 officers. A large exclusion zone was set up around the Hofburg to shield the two groups from each other, the police said. According to police spokesman Markus Dittrich, there were no major riots. Only a few smaller pyrotechnic objects were detonated, which is actually prohibited. The Vienna Chamber of Commerce was also not aware of damage reports at the end of the demonstration.

The ball and the location were criticized in advance from various quarters. The president of the Jewish Community in Vienna (IKG), Oskar Deutsch, said in a statement: “Today, basement Nazis in disguise are once again bringing shame to all of Austria.”