Haider is just one example of the breed of politicians who practice a form of non-political `special offer politics` that appeals to a cynical population tired with traditional political parties. This film is an analysis of the structures that allow right-wing populists across Europe to achieve success at the polls. Austria's top Haider impersonator Florian Scheuba is joined by the psycologist Klaus Ottomeyer and the communications specialist Walter Ötsch to explain the mechanisms by which Haider gets his votes. The film examines how Haider used the weakness of the ruling Social Democrats in Austria, to achieve the largest working class vote in the country at the last general election in 1999.

The film also includes an interview with Josef Kleindienst, Haider's former police ally, whose allegations of the existence of a Freedom Party police spy network that was used to attack Haider's critics, have caused the largest scandel of Austria's Second Republic.

The film itself became the victim of the climate of fear, that the entry of Haider's party into a coalition government, has befallen Austria. Frederick Baker's request for archive material was partially censored by ORF - the monopoly state broadcaster in Vienna, because Jörg Haider is such a"delicate" subject. ORF journalists have protested about the increase in political interventions since Haider's party has entered government in February 2000.

For years colleagues at the BBC had asked me make a film about Haider. I always said ‚No‘, because only in a film of over 30 minutes could one get beyond the cliches that surround Haider. After the Freedom parties entry to government I got the time I wanted and this film is the result.