ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish woman running for a seat in the Austrian parliament in Sunday’s general elections advocates for equal rights and social justice, in a race where anti-immigrant rhetoric has dominated the campaign.
Ava Farajpoory, 25, is a member of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPO), running for a seat in Vienna’s district of Dobling.
Farajpoory has been advocating for equal rights in an election in which parties leading in opinion polls have promised strict rules on illegal immigration should they secure victory.
“The clear differences in lifestyle, literacy rates, and societal expectations raised a critical question in my mind: why should such contrasts exist? What actions can we take to address this issue?” Farajpoory told Rudaw’s Zinar Shino.
“My goal is to ensure that no child experiences poverty. Despite Austria's wealth, it is concerning that one in five children is at risk of living in poverty. This should not happen, and I am committed to advocating for change on a daily basis,” she added.
The Kurdish politician said she wants to accentuate the position of the Kurds in Austrian society.
“I want to highlight the position of the Kurds in our society. My political commitment is to advocate for the Kurdish community … As a Kurd of Austria, I feel it is my duty to ensure that Kurds are acknowledged and to combat any efforts aimed at their erasure,” she said.
Farajpoory said that she worked with her comrades to honor Zhina (Mahsa) Amini’s name and dedicate a street to her name.
The SPO is facing a challenging endeavor by the far-right opposition Freedom Party (FPO), which is poised to top in Sunday’s general election for the first time in which an estimated 6.4 million eligible voters are registered.
The FPO, which is pushing for tougher immigration laws, is leading in opinion polls.
Five years ago, the Freedom Party exited a coalition government with the conservative People’s Party following the unfolding of a corruption scandal known as Ibiza-gate. Under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, the FPO is on the verge of achieving a historic victory. It holds a slight lead over the ruling conservatives in opinion polls.
Although, leading in the polls, the FPO is not expected to win enough seats to establish a majority government.
The social democrats on the other side refuse to form a coalition with the FPO to form Vienna’s next government.
“It is evident that we will not enter into a coalition with the Freedom Party, and this decision is not based on a lack of respect but rather on their fundamentally different approach to humanity,” said Jasmine Malkoc, an SPO parliamentary candidate.
“Our commitment lies in serving every individual and opposing division; however, we cannot align ourselves with the Freedom Party, as they are enemies of democracy,” she added.
