Austria: The Far-right Freedom Party (FPO), under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, has declared an outstanding victory in the national elections, securing 29.2% of the vote, according to acting results. The FPO’s lead places it nearly three points ahead of the conservative People’s Party (OVP), which secured 26.5%. However, the result falls short of delivering a majority of potentially confusing section talks.
Kickl hailed the victory as a “new age” for Austria, thanking voters for their “optimism, courage, and trust” in what he described as a “piece of history.” His party has promised to assemble “Fortress Austria,” a nationalist vision focused on immigration control and reforming security and prosperity in the country. Yet, despite this electoral success, forming a government may prove challenging for Kickl, as other major parties, including the OVP, have ruled out an alliance with him as chancellor.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the OVP, restated his party’s refusal to join a government led by Kickl, rewarding concerns over the FPO leader’s support for conspiracy theories and his controversial view on migration.
Wir haben heute Geschichte geschrieben! 🇦🇹 Danke an euch ALLE! 💙 pic.twitter.com/XFHo2FCEJ0
— FPÖ (@FPOE_TV) September 29, 2024
The election saw an elevated turnout of 74.9%, with migration, asylum, economic challenges, and the ongoing war in Ukraine dominating the political debate. Voter analysis indicates that those aged 35-59 were most likely to back the far-right, with a slightly higher proportion of women supporting the FPO compared to men.
Kickl’s FPO won 56 seats in Austria’s 183-seat parliament, ahead of the OVP with 52 seats and the Social Democrats with 41. Though the FPO has been in coalition governments before, the path to forming a new one may be complex. Other parties, including the Social Democrats, Greens, and liberal Neos, have all ruled out cooperation with the far right.
Kickl’s success reflects a broader trend of far-right electoral gains across Europe. In recent months, radical right-wing parties have made inroads in countries such as Italy, Germany, and France. Kickl’s victory is seen as part of this wider shift, with other prominent far-right leaders, such as Alice Weidel of Germany’s AfD and Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally, complimenting him on his win.
However, unlike some of his far-right counterparts, Kickl has faced scrutiny over his view on Russia and the EU. The FPO has been blamed for its opposition to EU sanctions on Moscow and its failure to fully condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This has raised concerns for Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who will supervise the formation of the new government and has expressed uneasiness about granting Kickl a mandate.
As coalition negotiations unfold, Austria faces a period of apprehension, with potential outcomes ranging from a weak conventional alliance to an incredible breakthrough for the far right.
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