Rumors about Sellner

FPÖ: Kickl & Vilimsky stay away from the Academics’ Ball

Akademikerball: Kickl and Vilimsky stay away even in a super election year.(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

On Friday, the Vienna FPÖ's Academics' Ball will once again cause conflicts of interest between left and right. While corporates and blue functionaries meet in the Hofburg, demonstrations against the event have been announced around the venue. FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl will also stay away in this super election year. The top candidate for the EU elections, Harald Vilimsky, will also not be attending the ball.

FPÖ public prosecutor Walter Rosenkranz will be the keynote speaker for the second time on Friday. Kickl has always stayed away from the event; the Third President of the National Council, Norbert Hofer, may be attending the Hofburg.

"Anyone can buy a ticket"
With regard to speculation that the Identitarian Martin Sellner could come again, the organizer responds with the usual comment that anyone can buy a ticket.

"Offensive against the right": counter demonstration registered
The demonstration against the ball is as traditional as the ball itself. The "Offensive gegen Rechts" ("Offensive against the Right") is once again calling for protests on its website, with the plan to gather in front of the University of Vienna in the early evening. The police are still keeping a low profile regarding other registered rallies and possible security measures, as assemblies must be registered at least 48 hours in advance.

The Vienna Academics' Ball has only been held under its current name since 2013. It is considered the official successor to the WKR Ball, which had previously been hosted by university corporations wearing the colors and mostly beating since 1952. The majority of left-wing protesters have been demonstrating against this for many years, with some violent protests taking place before the change of organizer.

The Academics' Ball the previous year(Bild: APA/FOTO SULZER)

In the Hofburg itself, the participants were mostly very calm and regularly condemned the "violent riots". While university rectors regularly gave the speeches at the ball during the WKR era, a new era also dawned afterwards: In 2018, for example, former FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache addressed the assembled fraternity members and even condemned anti-Semitism within his own ranks.