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Austria’s far right takes aim at climate activist Thunberg

September 28, 2019 GMT

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Supporters wave with a poster of Norbert Hofer leader of the right-wing Freedom Party, FPOE, slogan reads: 'Vienna for Hofer' at a closing rally ahead of elections in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2019. The Austrian elections will held on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

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VIENNA (AP) — Austria’s far-right Freedom Party has added prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg to its list of targets during campaigning ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Party leader Norbert Hofer took a swipe at the Swedish teenager Friday during a debate aired by Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, warning against “climate hysteria.”

Thunberg’s campaign to push leaders to act against climate change has inspired mass demonstrations in cities worldwide , including in Austria, where some 65,000 people protested Friday.

Hofer, whose party was in government until a leaked video triggered allegations of corruption, also took aim at Islam and migrants, warning Austria risked a repeat of the 2015 influx.

The Freedom Party is trailing in polls behind the center-right People’s Party and is roughly level with the center-left Social Democrats.