Haider turns on allies as dissent engulfs party

Austria's extreme-right Freedom Party is sinking into a bout of mud-slinging after the disastrous flooding that swept across the country.

Spurred by signs of dissent, the party's former leader, Jörg Haider, has announced plans for a nationwide petition against a decision backed by some of his closest allies.

His collision course with his own party centres around a decision by the People's Party/Freedom Party coalition government to postpone tax cuts, planned for next year, because of the flooding.

The Chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel of the People's Party, appealed to Mr Haider yesterday to accept that there was broad understanding for the postponement. "Jörg Haider used to always have a very good sense of what the population was feeling, and I would really recommend that he took heed of the mood in the country. Everyone understands this."

But Mr Haider, the self-declared champion of the ordinary man on the street, said the decision was "hardly bearable because I am used to honouring my promises".

Mr Haider initially called for a special Freedom Party convention to discuss the postponement of the reforms. He stepped down as leader amid international criticism of his party's entry into national government, but has continued to pull the strings from the southern stronghold of Carinthia, where he is governor.

This time, however, his successor as party head, Susanne Riess-Passer, did not follow his call. Mrs Riess-Passer said she stood by the decision to postpone tax reforms, adding that if Mr Haider's wish for a convention was granted she would no longer "be available" as party head.

She received the backing of several senior figures, such as the parliamentary leader Peter Westenthaler, who said he would "stand and fall" with the party leader.

Mr Haider then threatened a "total withdrawal" of his support for the Freedom Party. It was not the first time he had done so. Earlier this year, Mr Haider made a similar announcement after a controversial trip to Iraq, resulting in a marathon crisis session for the party.

This time the threat was met with silence, prompting Mr Haider to announce his planned petition. Once again, Mrs Riess-Passer refused to be drawn and called instead for a non-binding referendum.

The party leader's moves mark the first real sign that she is capable of freeing herself from her predecessor. It is too early to say whether the row signals the beginning of the end of the Freedom Party.

There has been much speculation about whether Mr Haider will make one last attempt to enter government next year, before launching into a pan-European right-wing initiative.