Austria's far right takes aim at climate activist Thunberg

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.