Key Takeaways:
– Austria’s far-right Freedom Party garners 29.2% of the vote to become election victors.
– Herbert Kickl led party vowed to create “Fortress Austria” by sealing the country’s borders.
– Despite the victory, the Freedom Party needs to find coalition partners to form a government.
– Major Austrian parties refuse to form a coalition with the far-right, complicating Kickl’s path to power.
– The election result draws parallels to recent election trends in neighboring Germany.
An Unprecedented Victory
In an unparalleled political shift, Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) emerged victorious in the recent national parliamentary elections. The party, led by Herbert Kickl, scored a historic 29.2% of the vote, outperforming the center-right Austrian People’s Party with 26.5% and the Social Democrats at 21%. This marks the first triumph for a far-right party in Austria since World War II.
A Weakness or Strength?
Reflecting a broader European trend, the rise of the Freedom Party showcases the popularity of nationalist and anti-immigration parties. Public frustration over escalating inflation, the continuously intensifying conflict in Ukraine, and a climb in migrant populations have immensely contributed to the Party’s surge. Kickl’s party, renowned for its anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric, campaigned heavily on a bid to forge “Fortress Austria,” aiming to secure the country’s borders against illegal immigration.
Implications and Aspirations
The Freedom Party has pledged stringent control over immigration, including enforced remigration of non-Austrian nationals and stricter oversight of asylum laws. The party leader, priorly an interior minister, has been a significantly critical voice against Austria’s involvement in international sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Kickl’s vision of ruling Austria as a “Volkskanzler” or people’s chancellor, shows his leaning towards nationalist sentiment and intention to maintain distance from European Union policies on Ukraine and Russia.
Comparisons and Parallels
The election outcome in Austria mirrors the trend observed in neighboring Germany. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has made substantial gains, particularly in rural regions, claiming over 30% of votes in Thuringia and Saxony.
Coalition Building Challenges
Despite the Freedom Party’s win, it falls short of the majority to form a new government independently. It thus faces the arduous task of identifying willing partners to construct a governing coalition. However, other predominant Austrian parties, including the center-right FPO and the Social Democrats, have denied any likelihood of a coalition alliance with them. This scenario casts doubt on the Freedom Party’s path towards forming the next government and achieving its proposed reforms.
Center-Right’s Decline
The election outcome signals a notable decline of the center-right in Austria, which had held power via various coalitions for the last decade. Current Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s People’s Party lost significant ground compared to its performance in 2019. It seems many Austrians blame the center-right movement for the nation’s economic challenges and certain controversial policies, including the temporary COVID vaccine mandate.
Past Controversies and Future Hurdles
Kickl’s political journey has been fraught with controversies, including allegations of the Freedom Party’s involvement in the “Ibiza Affair” corruption scandal, which led to the downfall of the last coalition government. Since then, he has managed to rebuild the party’s reputation by positioning it as a defender of national sovereignty and critic of the EU. Now, Kickl and his German counterparts face the uphill task of converting their electoral successes into effective governance.