Austria’s Far-Right Freedom Party Celebrates Election Victory
VIENNA — In a triumphant address to his supporters, Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, heralded a new era as they celebrated a historic election win.
With projected results showing Kickl’s party at 28.8%, surpassing the conservative People’s Party at 26.3%, but falling short of a majority, the victory marks a significant moment in Austrian politics.
Amid a wave of far-right successes across Europe, Kickl commended voters for their “optimism, courage, and trust” in shaping a pivotal chapter in the country’s history.
While the Freedom Party has been part of coalitions before, the People’s Party, now in second place, has refused to join a government led by Kickl.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the main rival, criticized Kickl for his embrace of conspiracy theories, stating that forming a government with him would be “impossible”.
With a turnout of 78%, Austria’s 6.3 million voters participated in an election dominated by issues of migration, asylum, the economy, and the conflict in Ukraine.
As the map of Austria turned blue, FPÖ general secretary Michael Schnedlitz hailed the historic moment, but remained tight-lipped about potential coalition plans.
Kickl’s party is expected to secure around 56 seats in the 183-seat parliament, with the conservatives on 52 and the Social Democrats on 41.
Pledging to build a “Fortress Austria” and aligning closely with Viktor Orban of Hungary, Kickl aims to restore security, prosperity, and peace to the nation.
While some warn against following Hungary’s path, Kickl’s ambition to become the “people’s chancellor” has sparked controversy and comparisons to past leaders.
Founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, the Freedom Party has faced scrutiny, with recent incidents of candidates singing SS songs raising concerns.
As protesters gathered outside parliament, opposition to the far-right party was evident, signaling potential challenges for Kickl in forming a coalition.
Political analysts speculate on possible coalition scenarios and the challenges Kickl may face in securing a partnership.
With a string of right-wing victories in Europe, Kickl’s projected win adds to the trend of radical parties gaining ground across the continent.
Despite differences in views on key issues like Ukraine, leaders of right-wing parties in Europe have shown support for Kickl’s victory.
As Kickl taps into immigration fears and capitalizes on discontent over pandemic handling, his election win marks a significant turnaround for his party from past setbacks. — BBC
