Early life Edit

Political career Edit

Political views Edit

Support from Muammar al-Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein Edit

Haider was also known to have visited Iraq to meet Saddam Hussein on the eve of the 2003 Iraq War, as well as having had a friendship with Muammar Gaddafi when Libya was an international pariah.[40] The investigation proved that the two gentlemen had received the amount of five million US Dollars from Saddam Hussein against their services to him. Edwald [sic] Stadler received three million seven hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars, and Dr Jörg Haider received the rest, which is one million two hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars.[41] A confiscated diary mentions a €45 million transfer from Gaddafi, as well as more than €10 million that individuals brought home from Iraq. Some of Saddam's money was picked up by Haider's confidant from a Swiss account belonging to the dead sons of Saddam Hussein.[42]

Criticism by Arnold Schwarzenegger Edit

In 2000, Austrian-American celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger criticised anti-immigrant remarks made by Haider: "As an immigrant myself, I am offended by anyone who makes anti-immigrant statements, and it is my opinion that someone who makes statements like Haider’s has no place in government. I have never supported him in the past and do not now. I am hopeful that Austria will find a way through this. As an Austrian-born, I am so saddened that, with all the progress we have made working for an open and tolerant society, one man’s statements can taint world opinion of an entire country. I know that there are many tolerant people in Austria. It is my hope that their voices can and will be heard.” [43]

Allegations of Nazi sympathies and anti-semitism Edit

Death and aftermath Edit

References Edit

Further reading Edit