Gunther Fehlinger
| Gunther Fehlinger | |
|---|---|
| Born | Günther Friedrich Fehlinger August 23, 1968[1] Linz, Austria |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Austrian |
| 🏫 Education | Vienna University of Economics and Business |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Advocating for NATO and EU expansion |
Gunther Fehlinger is an Austrian economist and consultant who served as Secretary General of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of European People's Party. He is the chairman of multiple non-governmental organizations advocating for the Enlargement of the European Union and the Enlargement of NATO.
Early life and education
Fehlinger was born in 1968 in the Austrian city of Linz. He attended the Khevenhüller Gymnasium Linz secondary school from 1979 to 1988 before serving in the Austrian Armed Forces as a lieutenant reservist from 1988 to 1989. He studied at the Vienna University of Economics and Business from October 1989 to September 1998, graduating with a master's degree in international trade, specializing in management and human resources.[1][2]
Student activism
From 1991 to 1995, Fehlinger was Financial and International Officer of the Austrian Students' Union while additionally serving as an Austrian delegate to the European Students' Union from 1993 to 1995 and National Chairman of AktionsGemeinschaft from 1994 to 1995. In 1998, Fehlinger trained with the American conservative youth organization Young America's Foundation in Washington, D.C..[1][3]
European Democrat Students
Fehlinger has maintained close involvement with the pan-European centre-right student and youth political association European Democrat Students since February 1994, leading to him being described as "one of the most influential EDS-officers of nineties" in the official history of the organization. Fehlinger served as a vice-chairman of EDS from 1995 to 1996 before serving as chair from 1996 to 1998. In addition, Fehlinger led multiple EDS working groups and attempted to organize a trip to Belgrade in January 1997, which was blocked by the Yugoslav government denying visas. Most notably, Fehlinger led the push to make the EDS the official youth wing of the European People's Party.[4]
Career
Since 2005 Gunther has focused on economic reform and SME policy in European countries in transition, primarily in Kosovo, Albania and Ukraine. He is a member of the board of the Action Group for Regional Economic Integration of the Southern Balkans, and coordinates the network Europeans for Tax Reform. He coordinates the Austrian Yes for Ukraine and supports the "Trio concept" for EU membership in Austria. He also publishes a Podcast called Pax Europeana.[5][6]
In October 2022, Fehlinger took part in a panel discussion held at Hangar-7 in Salzburg relating to the Austrian Armed Forces and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moderated by journalist Michael Fleischhacker, the discussion was held with Professor and neutrality advocate Andrea Komlosy, defence expert Ralph Thiele, Colonel Klaus Wolff, and cultural scientist Nathalie Weidenfeld.[7]
Political views
Fehlinger describes himself as the Chair of European Committee for NATO Enlargement for Kosovo, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Moldova, Malta, Ireland, Georgia, Cyprus, and the European Union.[8][9] He has additionally called for Armenia to join NATO and leave the CSTO military alliance.
He has attacked the neutrality of Austria and Malta as being rooted in former socialist leaders Bruno Kreisky and Dom Mintoff.[10]
Fehlinger has supported a proposal from the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum (FNRF) to dismantle the Russian Federation into 41 new independent states and is listed as an official speaker by the FNRF.[11]
Fehlinger is sharply critical of Serbia, stating on Twitter that "Serbia must be isolated" and "let us build a wall around Serbia!" Fehlinger has also stated that "Who rejects Kosovo recognition must doubt if he is seriously part of the Free World."[12]
Fehlinger has endorsed former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.[13]
Controversies
Fehlinger's role as the leader of a pro-NATO NGO has led to misunderstandings that he is speaking on behalf of the military alliance. After Fehlinger tweeted "Nikol Pashinyan, I call on Armenia to join NATO. Joe Biden, protect Armenia," Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan clarified that Fehlinger is just the head of a non-governmental organization that has the word 'NATO' in its name."[14] Fehlinger's comments triggered opposition from Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko, who dismissed Fehlinger’s proposal as a "grand fantasy."[15]
Proposal to dismantle Brazil
In response to Brazil's participation in the 15th BRICS summit, Fehlinger declared that if Brazilain President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were to "lead Brazil in the same direction as Russia, China, Iran" and join a "hostile axis of genocide" he would "call to dismantle Brazil". Fehlinger included a map depicting the break-up of Brazil into four fragmented states, Amazonia, Pedronia, Recife, and a rump Brazil.
Fehlinger's comments were falsely attributed as an official NATO position, with Reuters reporting a video with such claims had over 250,000 views on Facebook. In a statement, Fehlinger clarified that his comments were "not a NATO official position" and that he has "no relation with NATO" while asking Brazil "How do you feel if you will be dismantled?" A statement from NATO further declared "any claims that NATO plans to invade or partition Brazil are utter nonsense."[16]
Personal life
Fehlinger is married with two children.[5] In addition to his native German, Fehlinger is fluent in English and French and claims to have an intermediate proficiency of Russian, Spanish, and Croatian in addition to a basic knowledge of Dutch.[1] He does not smoke.[4]
In popular culture
Fehlinger's Twitter account has been referenced on American socialist political podcast Chapo Trap House on episodes 744 and 757.
Referrals
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Europeans For Tax Reform - Our People". Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Speaker Biography: Gunther Fehlinger". IME-Europe. Retrieved 7 September 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "[1] Archived March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine," retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Students on the right way: European Democrat Students 1961-2011" (PDF). European Democrat Students, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fehlinger, Gunther (20 May 2023). "Gunther Fehlinger".
- ↑ -gunther-fehlinger-evTtVXd_BAR/ "Podcast" Check
|url=value (help). Listen Notes (Podcast). Gunther Fehlinger. Retrieved 20 May 2023. Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ ServusTV On (October 29, 2022). "Talk im Hangar-7 - Krieg in Europa: Sind wir schutzlos ausgeliefert? Kurzfassung" (YouTube). YouTube. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/GunterFehlinger/status/1699544431928512598?s=20
- ↑ "Gunther Fehlinger: I call Armenia to join NATO". 7 September 2023.
- ↑ Fehlinger, Gunther (October 9, 2022). "Malta, Austria and Ireland united in NATO 2023 – Gunther Fehlinger". The Times of Malta. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Speakers".
- ↑ "Fehlinger Wants Kosovo in EU in 2029, Calls for 'Isolation' of Serbia". 7 September 2023.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/GunterFehlinger/status/1683955335051067393
- ↑ https://arka.am/en/news/politics/nato_did_not_urge_armenia_to_join_the_alliance_but_yerevan_is_ready_to_continue_cooperation_deputy_f/ | title=NATO did not urge Armenia to join the Alliance, but Yerevan is ready to continue cooperation - Deputy Foreign Minister | date=4 September 2023 }}
- ↑ "Russian diplomat calls EU's remarks about Armenia joining NATO 'grand fantasy'". September 6, 2023.
- ↑ Fehlinger, Gunther [@GunterFehlinger] (August 25, 2023). "After this #BRICS summit I start to wonder if Socialist Corrupt Lula is not the hope of Free World but will lead Brazil 🇧🇷 into same direction as Russia, China, Iran 🇮🇷 I make it very clear if you @LulaOficial join hostile axis of Genocide, I will call to dismantle Brazil 🇧🇷?" (Tweet). Retrieved September 8, 2023 – via Twitter.
External links
Twitter - Personal Twitter profile
YouTube - Personal YouTube profile
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