After a pro-Palestinian post, the leadership of the Socialist Youth (SJ) in Vorarlberg is in danger of being expelled from the party. The group had shared a statement titled “Down with hypocrisy – for the defense of Gaza.”
Now the two officials responsible will be expelled from the party, as announced on Thursday. In addition, annual funding of 3,000 euros for the SJ will be frozen, said Mario Leiter, Vorarlberg’s new state party chairman.
“We as SPÖ Vorarlberg support the joint declaration of solidarity of the parliamentary parties and therefore cannot tolerate such actions by the SJ. It was important for us as a party to the treaty to respond quickly and consistently to send a clear signal. The SJ leadership bears responsibility for its actions and should therefore expect consequences for them,” the politician explained. Such ideas have no place in the party.
“No insight visible”
No insight emerged from personal conversations, “hence the drastic step to be expelled from the party.” What had happened? As reported, Socialist Youth (SJ) Vorarlberg shared on social media a statement from the Marxist movement “Der Funke” about the war in the Middle East. It said something like: “We are responding to the blatant hypocrisy of imperialism and its lackeys who stand behind the Israeli state, which is now carrying out a bloody revenge.”
Here you see the post of the Socialist Youth on Instagram.
The Palestinian people would not oppress the Israeli people. Leiter emphasized that they fully support the declaration of solidarity with Israel. Both the federal party and SJ Austria have already distanced themselves from SJ Vorarlberg’s post. The SJ is an independent organization, but its political leadership bears responsibility.
“Images shock us all”
“The images that reach us from Israel and Palestine shock us all. Any attack on the civilian population must be resolutely rejected – on both sides. Despite all the emotions, one thing should not be forgotten: Hamas is a terrorist organization. Their atrocities must be condemned and cannot be justified by anything,” Leiter said in a broadcast on Thursday.
Here you can see SJ Vorarlberg’s response to the criticism.
The SJ, whose leadership has now been expelled from the party, spoke on Wednesday of a “character assassination campaign” and “one-sided war hysteria.” .
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
