Vienna, Austria - Picknicking with friends in the park after prayers at a Vienna mosque, Saima Arab, a 20-year-old pedicurist originally from Afghanistan, is thankful for her freedoms in Austria.
Many Austrians, however, are worried about their country's ability to integrate migrants, especially Muslims, and their desire for stricter immigration laws was a key issue in Sunday's election which gave victory to the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) for the first time.
Both the FPO and the runner-up, the ruling conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP), ran on pledges to tighten asylum laws and crack down on illegal immigration.
The FPO victory added to critics' concerns about the rise of the far right in Europe after electoral gains in recent months by the Alternative for Germany and the National Rally in France.
Opinion polls showed immigration and inflation were key voter concerns, reflecting the growing sentiment in Austria that the country is taking in migrants faster than it can integrate them.
Analysis:
The recent far-right victory in Austria's elections has sparked concerns about the country's immigration policies and integration of migrants. The rise of xenophobia in Europe, as evidenced by the electoral gains of far-right parties in various countries, highlights the need for a balanced approach to immigration and asylum laws. The implications of these political shifts could have far-reaching consequences for both migrants and native populations, shaping the social and economic landscape of Austria and Europe as a whole.
