Austrian chancellor names new far-right deputy

VIENNA, Oct 20 (AFP) - Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel Monday named a new vice chancellor, choosing Hubert Gorbach, a member of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) like his predecessor, who will seek to calm the feuding within his organisation.

The appointment at once raised speculation that it marked the beginning of a return to national politics by Joerg Haider, the populist who led the FPOe to its greatest electoral success in 1999 but then stepped down as leader.

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Gorbach, 47, currently minister for infrastructure in the governing right-wing coalition of Conservatives and the FPOe, will be sworn in Tuesday.

He belongs to the reforming wing of the FPOe and is seen as a compromise candidate who faces the task of keeping the peace within the party between those who differ over its role in government.

He is not regarded as being particularly close to Haider who exercises his influence from his power base as governor of the southern province of Carinthia.

Nevertheless, "Joerg Haider's influence in the government and his own party will be strengthened," said Vienna University political scientist Emmerich Talos.

With Gorbach as vice chancellor "the FPOe will be more stable ... and can try to play a larger role in its favourite areas -- social affairs, security and immigration."

Gorbach replaces Herbert Haupt, 55, regarded as having been pushed out by Haider, even though he was a loyal lieutenant. He will remain Social Affairs Minister.

He will also stay on as head of the FPOe until its congress next year, but under the supervision of Ursula Haubner who is a junior social affairs minister and Haider's sister.

Monday's government reshuffle had been expected. Haupt himself had raised the prospect after the FPOe had suffered severe reverses in regional elections in Tyrol and Upper Austria, when it lost half its vote.

There has been growing criticism of government policy from the FPOe and Haider, aimed at Economy Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, an independent, and Employment Minister Martin Bartenstein, a Conservative, singled out for blame for an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.

The governing coalition of right-wing parties has introduced some unpopular reforms affecting pensions, public finance and privatisation in the face of opposition from trade unions, left-wing parties and some FPOe members.

One recent opinion poll showed more than two-thirds of voters were unhappy with the government. In another, published Monday, the Conservatives were viewed favourably by 36 percent of those questioned while the FPOe won only seven percent backing.

The opposition was viewed favourably by 56 percent of the sample, with 43 percent backing for the Social Democrats and 13 percent for the Greens.

For Social Democrat leader Alfred Gusenbauer, "Gorbach, it's the pursuit of Haupt's policy by other means." Green spokesman Alexander Van der Bellen, commented "the government is bowing to the whims of Joerg Haider."

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