26/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Just as Mr Schüssel, leader of the ÖVP, was announcing that he thought he could conclude an agreement with Mr Haider's FPO on the formation of the new Austrian Government, French Socialists Mr Duhamel and Mrs Lienemann, Members of the EP, stated that the "EU cannot let the far right move into power in Austria without reacting". The formation of a government is the competence of Member States, but under Article 6 of the Treaty, the Union is "founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights", they observe. The FPÖ is often "xenophobic" and its leader has "on several occasions made remarks expressing admiration for nazism", they continue, noting that the participation of such a party in the government "would be unprecedented in our Europe" and that Austria's image would be "seriously altered".