The far-right Freedom Party has claimed victory in the general elections held in Austria.
Under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, a former interior minister who was dismissed due to the Ibiza scandal, the party secured the top spot ahead of the ruling conservatives, with the center-left Social Democrats coming in third.
Nonetheless, the likelihood of the party actually forming a government is still ambiguous.
Herbert Kickl addressing an audience in Vienna this past weekend. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Initial official results indicated the Freedom Party received 29.2% of the votes, while Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party took second place with 26.5%, followed by the Social Democrats at 21%, as per a nearly complete tally provided by national broadcaster ORF.
The outgoing administration, comprised of Mr. Nehammer’s party and the Greens, has lost its majority in the lower house of parliament.
Mr. Kickl has expressed his ambition to become chancellor; however, to assume this role, he requires a coalition partner, and competitors have voiced their reluctance to collaborate with him in a government.
Additionally, he has faced backlash for his reference to the term “Volkskanzler,” or chancellor of the people, a phrase historically associated with Adolf Hitler during the 1930s.
Mr. Kickl has denied any such comparisons.
The party has capitalized on public concerns regarding immigration, inflation, COVID-19, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, coinciding with a notable upswing for far-right parties across Europe, as seen in recent electoral successes in other nations.
In its electoral manifesto, entitled Fortress Austria, the Freedom Party advocated for the “remigration of uninvited foreigners” to foster a more “homogeneous” state.
The party also demands an end to sanctions on Russia, strongly critiques Western military support for Ukraine, and advocates for withdrawal from the European Sky Shield Initiative—the missile defense initiative initiated by Germany.
Pic: Reuters
In his final campaign address on Saturday, Mr. Kickl asserted that the sanctions imposed on Moscow due to its Ukraine invasion were inflicting more damage on Austria than on Russia itself.
In a separate discussion with other party leaders broadcasted on ORF, he stated, “We need not adjust our stance because we have consistently indicated our readiness to lead a government, prepared to advance this transformation in Austria alongside its people.”
Mr. Nehammer characterized Mr. Kickl as a “security threat” for the nation.
He, along with other political figures, has reiterated his refusal to establish a coalition with Mr. Kickl.
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If the Freedom Party cannot galvanize a government, an alternative might be a partnership between the People’s Party and the Social Democrats—potentially including the liberal Neos, who garnered 9% of the votes.
The far-right triumph in Austria coincides with similar victories across various parts of Europe.
Geert Wilders, the far-right leader in the Netherlands whose party leads the country’s new government, praised the Freedom Party on social media.
Additionally, Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), whose party recently achieved significant victories in state elections for the first time, also sent her congratulations.
