Austria's Far Right Seizes Historic Victory Amidst Political Turmoil

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Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has ushered in what its leader, Herbert Kickl, described as a "new era" following a landmark electoral win. The FPÖ secured 29.2% of the vote, surpassing the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), which garnered 26.5%, according to provisional results. Despite this triumph, the FPÖ remains well short of an outright majority, leaving the formation of a governing coalition uncertain.

 

 

Kickl's victory marks another chapter in the rising tide of far-right successes across Europe. In his victory speech, Kickl praised the electorate for their "optimism, courage and trust," stating that they had contributed to a "piece of history." However, forming a government remains complicated. While the FPÖ has previously governed in coalition, the ÖVP, led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, has refused to cooperate with Kickl. Nehammer has openly stated that it is “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories.”

 

 

A high voter turnout of 74.9% reflected the intense public interest in an election shaped by concerns over migration, asylum, a struggling economy, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. As results rolled in and parts of Austria turned dark blue, representing FPÖ's victory, party general secretary Michael Schnedlitz declared, "The men and women of Austria have made history today." He remained cautious, however, not disclosing the party’s strategy for forming a coalition.

The demographic breakdown of voters showed that those between 35 and 59 years of age were most inclined to support the far-right, with a slight tilt toward women. The FPÖ has claimed 58 seats in Austria's 183-seat parliament, while the ÖVP secured 52 seats, and the Social Democrats won 41.

 

Kickl, a fiery figure in Austrian politics, campaigned on promises to build "Fortress Austria," restoring what he described as the nation's lost security, prosperity, and peace. His vision aligns closely with that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, raising concerns about Austria's potential political trajectory. Andreas Babler, the leader of the Social Democrats, warned that Austria must avoid following the path of Hungary, where Orban's nationalist policies have raised alarms in Europe.

 

Kickl has also expressed aspirations to become Austria’s "Volkskanzler" (people's chancellor), a term that some Austrians associate with Adolf Hitler from Nazi Germany. Founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, the FPÖ has a controversial history. Just days before the election, several of the party's candidates were filmed singing an SS song at a funeral, a reminder of the party’s historical roots. The electoral victory also prompted small protests outside Austria’s parliament, where demonstrators carried anti-Nazi banners.

 

Forming a coalition government is expected to be a challenge for Kickl. While the Social Democrats, Greens, and Neos have ruled out any alliance with the far-right, the FPÖ's only viable coalition partner could be the conservatives. However, ÖVP’s leadership has made it clear that they do not support Kickl’s bid for chancellor. Political analyst Thomas Hofer suggested that it remains unclear whether Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen would even grant Kickl a mandate to form a government.

 

There are rumors that Nehammer might face pressure from within his own party to drop his opposition to Kickl, especially after such a significant electoral defeat. A senior figure in the FPÖ even suggested that Nehammer should resign, though that notion was rejected by the general secretary of the ÖVP. President Van der Bellen has previously expressed reservations about the FPÖ due to its critical stance on the EU and its refusal to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

Many FPÖ MPs walked out of a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Vienna last year, and the party opposes EU sanctions against Moscow, citing Austria's neutrality.

 

Kickl’s victory is the latest in a series of successes for far-right parties across Europe. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni now leads a right-wing coalition, while Germany’s AfD recently topped polls in Thuringia, and France’s National Rally won the European elections last June. However, unlike Kickl, Meloni has backed the EU's defense of Ukraine.

 

The European far-right movement continues to gain momentum, with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel congratulating Kickl, and Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally hailing the results as a sign of the "people's triumphs everywhere." Geert Wilders, who leads the far-right Freedom Party in the Netherlands, echoed these sentiments, stating that "identity, sovereignty, freedom and no more illegal immigration/asylum" are now key issues for millions of Europeans.

 

For Kickl, Sunday's win represents a comeback from 2019, when the FPÖ fell to third place following a video sting scandal involving its former leader. As he now seeks to lead Austria, the political landscape remains fractured, with coalition negotiations likely to dominate the coming weeks.

 

Based on a report from: BBC 2024-10-01

 

 

 

[Chelseafan]

If the EU doesn't get a grip on immigration quickly then the far-right parties are only going to gain momentum.