Austria is facing political uncertainty as major parties prepare for difficult negotiations to form a new government following a general election. The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) secured 29% of the vote, its highest result since its founding after World War II, surpassing the ruling center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and dealing a blow to the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ).
Voters frustrated with issues like migration and inflation turned away from the centrist parties, while the Greens, junior partners in the outgoing government, saw their support drop to just 8%.
The FPÖ’s rise is particularly notable among younger voters and those dissatisfied with Austria’s pandemic measures. Exit polls show the party gaining strong support from voters under 34 and those aged 35 to 59, though older voters largely remained with the more traditional ÖVP and SPÖ.
Despite its success, the FPÖ faces significant challenges in forming a government due to its extremist stances and controversial ties, which have made it difficult to find coalition partners among smaller parties.
The election outcome has sparked widespread concern, with groups like the International Auschwitz Committee and the Jewish Community of Vienna condemning the FPÖ’s victory.
Austria Faces Political Uncertainty as Far-Right FPÖ Surges in Election, Challenging Coalition Talks
Critics emphasize the party’s links to Austria’s far-right history and its troubling anti-immigrant and pro-Russian policies. Party leader Herbert Kickl, known for his inflammatory rhetoric and alignment with authoritarian figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, has become a polarizing figure in Austrian politics, intensifying opposition to the FPÖ.
Although the FPÖ won the most votes, it lacks the majority needed to govern alone, and forming a coalition may prove difficult. Most smaller parties have ruled out working with the far-right, and the ÖVP has set conditions that make collaboration unlikely unless Kickl is removed.
Austria’s president, Alexander Van der Bellen, has called on democratic parties to uphold the country’s liberal values, hinting at a possible coalition of centrist and left-wing parties to block the FPÖ from power.
Some experts caution that excluding the FPÖ from the government could further strengthen its appeal as an anti-establishment force, potentially leading to even greater gains in future elections.
However, allowing the far right to govern is seen as a greater risk, as it could push Austria in an authoritarian direction, threatening democratic institutions and the rule of law, much like the shift seen in Hungary under Viktor Orbán’s leadership.
