VIENNA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A prominent member of the Austrian far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has been at the centre of a neo-Nazi controversy surrounding a songbook used at a fraternity that he is a member of.
Udo Landbauer, the 31-year-old heading the FPO's campaign for elections in the state of Lower Austria on Sunday, joined the "Germania" academic fraternity in his youth. The Austrian weekly magazine "Falter" reported that he still acts as its deputy chair.
The songbook allegedly used by the fraternity uncovered on Tuesday was found to have songs with lyrics of an anti-Semitic nature, including praise of the Holocaust and pro-Nazi war references.
The revelation has sparked ongoing outrage and concerns at home and abroad. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Thursday called for the "full force of the law" to be brought against those responsible for the songbook, with Nazi-related content illegal in Austria.
In addition, he said via social media that there must be zero tolerance for "racism, anti-Semitism, and glorification of the Nazi reign of terror."
President Alexander Van der Bellen referred to the news as "despicable," while numerous officials have called for Landbauer to step down from office.
