The far-right Freedom Party made history on Sunday by securing its first national parliamentary election victory in post-World War II Austria .
As per the news agency AP, the Freedom Party led by Herbert Kickl, won 29.2 per cent of the vote, overtaking Chancellor Karl Nehammer 's Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which came in second with 26.5 per cent. The Social Democrats finished third with 21 per cent.
Kickl, a former interior minister, aims to become Austria's next chancellor, but his path to governing remains unclear. While the Freedom Party's victory taps into public frustrations over issues like immigration , inflation, and the war in Ukraine , Kickl still needs a coalition partner to form a majority government. However, many rival parties have stated they will not work with him.
In his victory speech on public television, Kickl said, "We have always said that we're ready to lead a government, we're ready to push forward this change in Austria side by side with the people." He urged other parties to reflect on their commitment to democracy.
The far-right's success comes amid growing discontent over high inflation, pandemic policies, and migration concerns. The Freedom Party's election manifesto, titled "Fortress Austria," advocated for strict border control, suspending the right to asylum and the "remigration" of foreigners. It also called for an end to sanctions on Russia and criticised military aid to Ukraine, while questioning Austria's participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative.
Despite the party’s victory, Kickl’s rivals, including Chancellor Nehammer, have refused to join a government led by him. Nehammer expressed disappointment over losing first place, but reaffirmed his pre-election stance: "What I said before the election, I also say after the election."
The Freedom Party's electoral success is its strongest yet, surpassing its previous high of 26.9% in 1999. However, the party’s reputation had been tarnished in 2019 after a scandal led to the resignation of then-leader Heinz-Christian Strache . Kickl’s leadership since 2021 has brought about a revival of support.
Despite Kickl’s ambitions, Social Democratic leader Andreas Babler dismissed any possibility of working with the far-right, calling Kickl "a threat to democracy." Meanwhile, Nehammer’s ÖVP, which has adopted a hard line on immigration, is now positioned as the key to forming the next government.
More than 6.3 million Austrians were eligible to vote in the election. The outgoing coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens lost their majority in this election. While the Freedom Party’s win reflects a surge in support for far-right movements across Europe, including in the Netherlands and Germany, Kickl’s path to leadership will likely depend on complex coalition negotiations.
As the country waits for the final tally of postal ballots, protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Vienna, holding placards with slogans such as "Kickl is a Nazi." The future of Austria’s government remains in limbo, with potential coalitions still uncertain.
As per the news agency AP, the Freedom Party led by Herbert Kickl, won 29.2 per cent of the vote, overtaking Chancellor Karl Nehammer 's Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which came in second with 26.5 per cent. The Social Democrats finished third with 21 per cent.
Kickl, a former interior minister, aims to become Austria's next chancellor, but his path to governing remains unclear. While the Freedom Party's victory taps into public frustrations over issues like immigration , inflation, and the war in Ukraine , Kickl still needs a coalition partner to form a majority government. However, many rival parties have stated they will not work with him.
In his victory speech on public television, Kickl said, "We have always said that we're ready to lead a government, we're ready to push forward this change in Austria side by side with the people." He urged other parties to reflect on their commitment to democracy.
The far-right's success comes amid growing discontent over high inflation, pandemic policies, and migration concerns. The Freedom Party's election manifesto, titled "Fortress Austria," advocated for strict border control, suspending the right to asylum and the "remigration" of foreigners. It also called for an end to sanctions on Russia and criticised military aid to Ukraine, while questioning Austria's participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative.
Despite the party’s victory, Kickl’s rivals, including Chancellor Nehammer, have refused to join a government led by him. Nehammer expressed disappointment over losing first place, but reaffirmed his pre-election stance: "What I said before the election, I also say after the election."
The Freedom Party's electoral success is its strongest yet, surpassing its previous high of 26.9% in 1999. However, the party’s reputation had been tarnished in 2019 after a scandal led to the resignation of then-leader Heinz-Christian Strache . Kickl’s leadership since 2021 has brought about a revival of support.
Despite Kickl’s ambitions, Social Democratic leader Andreas Babler dismissed any possibility of working with the far-right, calling Kickl "a threat to democracy." Meanwhile, Nehammer’s ÖVP, which has adopted a hard line on immigration, is now positioned as the key to forming the next government.
More than 6.3 million Austrians were eligible to vote in the election. The outgoing coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens lost their majority in this election. While the Freedom Party’s win reflects a surge in support for far-right movements across Europe, including in the Netherlands and Germany, Kickl’s path to leadership will likely depend on complex coalition negotiations.
As the country waits for the final tally of postal ballots, protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Vienna, holding placards with slogans such as "Kickl is a Nazi." The future of Austria’s government remains in limbo, with potential coalitions still uncertain.
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