Knittelfeld Putsch: Difference between revisions

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This is a translation and contraction of the German entry at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knittelfelder with a number of small additions.

"Knittelfelder" is a well-known reference in Austrian Politics, to events also known as the "Putsch of Knittelfeld".

The "putsch" refers to a conference of the Freedom Party of Austria, which took place on 7 September 2002 in the small Austrian town of Knittelfeld, Styria, called due to political differences within the party leadership. Joerg Haider participated in the meeting, but the Party Chair at that time, Susanne Riess-Passer, was not present. The key symbolic moment of the meeting was a public tearing of a compromise paper between Riess-Passer and Haider by the Carinthian delegate Scheuch (some witnesses report that Haider instructed Scheuch to publicly tear the paper, so even though it was Scheuch who actually tore the paper up, it was Haider in reality who was engaging in the destruction of the accord). The following day the resignations came of Riess-Passer (at that time she was the Austrian Vice-Chancellor), Ministers of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser (who was later reappointed by the OEVP), Peter Westenthaler and other liberal ministers and functionaries. This led to new elections being called, where the FPOe lost approximately two thirds of its voters of 1999 and fell from 26.9% of the public vote to 10,0%.

Since that time in the Austrian media the term "Knittelfelder" is used to refer to "party rebels" in the FPOe. You can also refer simply to "that Knittelfeld" to refer to the events of the congress. The term is also used rarely, to describe generally a group who stand in opposition to the leadership of their community or party and who have a large influence within that group. For example, a group of influential and vocal shareholders opposed to the management of the firm would be described as "Knittelfelders".

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-This is a translation of the German entry at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knittelfelder with a number of small additions.
+This is a translation and contraction of the German entry at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knittelfelder with a number of small additions.
 "Knittelfelder" is a well-known reference in Austrian Politics, to events also known as the "Putsch of Knittelfeld".
+The "putsch" refers to a conference of the Freedom Party of Austria, which took place on 7 September 2002 in the small Austrian town of Knittelfeld, Styria, called due to political differences within the party leadership. Joerg Haider participated in the meeting, but the Party Chair at that time, Susanne Riess-Passer, was not present. The key symbolic moment of the meeting was a public tearing of a compromise paper between Riess-Passer and Haider by the Carinthian delegate Scheuch (some witnesses report that Haider instructed Scheuch to publicly tear the paper, so even though it was Scheuch who actually tore the paper up, it was Haider in reality who was engaging in the destruction of the accord). The following day the resignations came of Riess-Passer (at that time she was the Austrian Vice-Chancellor), Ministers of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser (who was later reappointed by the OEVP), Peter Westenthaler and other liberal ministers and functionaries. This led to new elections being called, where the FPOe lost approximately two thirds of its voters of 1999 and fell from 26.9% of the public vote to 10,0%.
-It refers to a delegate conference of the Freedom Party of Austria, which took place on 7 September 2002 in the small Austrian town of Knittelfeld. The fact that it happened in Knittelfeld is merely a coincidence and has nothing to do with local political conditions. (This rail city has traditionally voted SPOe in previous elections). The only reason for the choice of Knittelfeld for the conference was it's easily accessible location.
-The meeting was called due to political differences within the party leadership. Joerg Haider participated in the meeting, but the Party Chair at that time, Susanne Riess-Passer, was not present. The key symbolic moment of the meeting was a public tearing of a compromise paper between Riess-Passer and Haider by the Carinthian delegate Scheuch (some witnesses report that Haider instructed Scheuch to publicly tear the paper, so even though it was Scheuch who actually tore the paper up, it was Haider in reality who was engaging in the destruction of the accord). The following day the resignations came of Riess-Passer (at that time she was the Austrian Vice-Chancellor), Ministers of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser (who was later reappointed by the OEVP), Peter Westenthaler and other liberal ministers and functionaries. This led to new elections being called, where the FPOe lost approximately two thirds of its voters of 1999 and fell from 26.9% of the public vote to 10,0%.
 Since that time in the Austrian media the term "Knittelfelder" is used to refer to "party rebels" in the FPOe. You can also refer simply to "that Knittelfeld" to refer to the events of the congress. The term is also used rarely, to describe generally a group who stand in opposition to the leadership of their community or party and who have a large influence within that group. For example, a group of influential and vocal shareholders opposed to the management of the firm would be described as "Knittelfelders".
-Of course the term can also be used to refer inhabitants of the city Knittelfeld.