European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker issued a warning to Austrian presidential candidate Norbert Hofer, regarding referendums.
Hofer, an anti-immigration, candidate is in a tight race for the election coming up on December 4.
If he wins, Hofer said he would hold in-out referendums if Brussels seeks to expand it power.
Please consider European president Jean-Claude Juncker pleads with EU leaders not to hold ‘in-out’ referendums – because voters will choose to Leave.
Jean-Claude Juncker has urged EU leaders not to hold referendums on their membership of the bloc because he fears their voters will also choose to leave. The European Commission president said giving people a vote would be ‘unwise’ as they could seek to replicate Brexit.
His remarks come as one of the contenders to become Austrian president has threatened to hold a referendum if the EU integrates further.
Norbert Hofer, who will become Europe’s first far-right head of state since the Second World War if elected on Sunday, has promised a ballot if the EU becomes more centralised following Brexit.
‘Regarding referenda on EU membership, I think it is not wise to organise this kind of debate, not only because I might be concerned about the final result but because this will pile more controversy onto the huge number already present at the heart of the EU.
‘Besides, I don’t think the next president of Austria, whoever it will be, will launch themselves into this kind of escapade.
‘I have learned to tell the difference, between campaign promises and concrete policies.
Mr Juncker, who has faced blame for the Brexit vote, insisted ‘the existence of the EU is not in doubt’.
He claimed the EU’s weakness was a ‘lack of love’ rather than because of the actions of Brussels.
Lie of the Day
Juncker is a babbling, hypocritical fool, who was also sure Brexit would never happen.
Asked about the Freedom Party candidate’s pledge, Mr Juncker told Euronews: ‘We can’t deny or take away the people of Europe’s right to express their views.’
Got that?
@BrexitCentral Juncker won’t take away the right of people to express views, except where it counts: the ballot box.https://t.co/m5iyqvY80h
— Mike “Mish” Shedlock (@MishGEA) November 30, 2016
Who Will Win?
Austria Betting Odds – Paddy Power
According to PaddyPower, the betting odds are 3/10 for Hofer and 11/5 for Van der Vellen as of November 29.
If you bet $5 on Van der Bellen you collect a total of $16 ($11 + $5).
If you bet $10 on Hofer you collect a total of $13 ($10 + $3).
Austria Betting Odds – Bwin
The sports betting site Bwin sees it this way.
In this case a bet of $200 on Hofer will return a total of $300 and a bet of $100 on Van der Bellen would return a total of $250.
Like Trump, Austria’s Norbert Hofer Attracting Disillusioned Working Class Voters
Breitbart reports Like Trump, Austria’s Norbert Hofer Attracting Disillusioned Working Class Voters.
The victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election has political analysts predicting a boost for Hofer and other populists across Europe in what they call the “Trump-effect.”
Hofer has extended his lead in the polls by another percentage point from his opponent, former Green party leader Alexander Van der Bellen.
Critics of the populist politician worry that Hofer will dissolve the grand coalition government in Austria, which consists of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Socialists, if he becomes president. Despite the FPÖ leading in the polls, Hofer has said he wouldn’t consider such a move until at least the summer of next year.
“I’m not going to dismiss the government at every opportunity,” he told Austrian broadcaster ORF. However, Mr. Hofer did make it clear that if the government didn’t continue on the path of border security and integration legislation he would very likely consider new elections.
Austrian Poll
The above from http://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/Hofer-zieht-in-Umfrage-davon/258808210.
Following Text Translation From German …
FPÖ candidate Hofer has 52% of the votes (with a fluctuation margin of 4%), independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has 48%. Compared to the beginning of the month, Hofer has thus increased the lead from two to four percent.
The race is, of course, still open. Because of the wide fluctuation range, Hofer moves between 48% and 56%, Van der Bellen between 44% and 52%.
Norbert Hofer extended his narrow lead over Van der Bellen (800 interviewees from November 14-16).
Final Comments
Polls and betting odds have been notoriously wrong lately. First came Brexit, then Trump, then a surprise in the French primary when Francois Fillon knocked off Nicolas Sarkozy in the first round.
This is the first time this year that polls and betting odds have had the anti-establishment candidate in the lead. Maybe the string of failures stops here.
A vote for Hofer would not only be a vote for common sense, it would be a good outcome for the UK as well.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
