Thousands in Austria join protests against far right

VIENNA: Thousands of people took to the streets across Austria on Friday to protest against right-wing extremism and racism, inspired by similar rallies in neighbouring Germany.

In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands have joined the German protests against the AfD party, after its members were revealed to have discussed a mass deportation plan at a meeting with extremists.

Among the participants was Martin Sellner, a leader of Austria´s Identitarian Movement, which subscribes to the “great replacement” conspiracy theory that alleges a plot to replace Europe´s “native” white population with non-white migrants.

In the capital Vienna, several thousand demonstrators braved rain to gather near the parliament building on Friday evening, braving the rain.

“We are here to defend democracy and stand up against the extremist movements that are growing in Europe,” one participant, Elena Tiefenboeck, told AFP.

“So that the past doesn´t repeat itself” at a time when the far-right FPOe party is expected to win this year´s parliamentary elections, the 25-year-old student said.