SP Youth campaign

A fuss about the idea for “bags for Kickl’s bags”

The members of the socialist youth in Freistadt in front of the FPÖ office

(Bild: SJ OÖ/Peter Brunner)

A campaign by the socialist youth in Freistadt, Upper Austria, has caused a huge stir. Four members posed in front of the FPÖ office with slogans in faecal language. The most harmless message was that there is now a "bag for Kickls Gackerl". The Blue Party speaks of a scandal.

A Facebook post by the socialist youth is driving the Freistadt FPÖ up the wall. The red youth politicians deposited huge bags of garbage in front of the office and held up signs in faecal language.

They justified their activism as follows: "Herbert Kickl is probably one of the biggest waste producers in the Republic. With his disgusting rhetoric against minorities and political opponents, he presents himself as a great provocateur, while in reality almost everything he says is simply filth that pollutes the media discourse."

The SJ believes it has a solution: Namely 'Sackerl für Herbert Kickls Gackerl', is the message, which the Freedom Party district spokesman Peter Handlos doesn't find funny at all. "If the SPÖ believes it can win elections with these campaigns, go ahead. However, the Reds shouldn't be surprised if the mood in our country changes."

"Citizens are just shaking their heads"
According to Handlos, the issue is already the talk of the town. "Many citizens have contacted us and are just shaking their heads. The SPÖ youth have probably done the SPÖ a disservice." Handlos therefore expects an apology from the party leadership.

The red SP mayor of Freistadt, Christian Gratzl, has already reacted. He apologized to FPÖ city councillor Harald Schuh and emphasized that he had known nothing about the action. He also promised to hold clarifying talks with the people involved.