Austria Faces Tight Election as Far Right Aims for Historic Victory, Reports Reuters

By Francois Murphy

Austrians are set to elect a new parliament on Sunday, with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) striving for its first general election victory in a closely contested race against the ruling conservatives. This election has primarily been shaped by concerns over the economy and immigration.

The FPO, which had been leading in opinion polls for several months, now finds its lead over the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) has nearly evaporated. Chancellor Karl Nehammer is portraying himself as a steady leader while branding FPO leader Herbert Kickl as a dangerous figure.

Regardless of the outcome, it is anticipated that neither party will secure an absolute majority. However, the winning party will seek the mandate to lead a coalition government. Early projections will be available shortly after polls close at 5 p.m. local time, with detailed results emerging over the following hours.

“The key issue is whether the FPO will have the opportunity to appoint the chancellor,” stated Kathrin Stainer-Haemmerle, a political science professor. “If that occurs, I believe Austria’s role within the European Union would undergo significant changes. Kickl has frequently expressed admiration for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, suggesting he would align closely with Orban’s policies.”

The eurosceptic and Russia-friendly FPO has been critical of Islam and has pledged to implement stricter asylum policies; they previously secured their first national election victory in June, narrowly defeating the OVP in European elections.

An FPO win would mark Austria as the latest country within the EU to experience a rise in far-right support, following similar trends in the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

President Alexander Van der Bellen has expressed concerns over the FPO’s anti-EU stance and its failure to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The party opposes EU sanctions against Russia, arguing for Austria’s neutrality.

Van der Bellen has indicated he might not follow convention by inviting the winning party to form a government. The OVP is the only party willing to consider a coalition with the FPO, and polls indicate they could achieve a majority together. However, Nehammer has ruled out joining a government that includes Kickl.

In a pointed remark this week, Kickl stated he would not step aside to serve as a junior partner under the OVP, saying, “Ideally I would vanish into thin air for you, but I won’t do you that favor, Mr. Nehammer.”

Kickl has gained notoriety for his provocative style, playing the role of an opposition figure while wrestling with the need to moderate his tone to appeal to a broader audience. The FPO aims to cease granting asylum entirely and create a “fortress Austria” to prevent migrants from entering, proposals many view as impractical or illegal.

During his closing campaign speech, Kickl claimed sanctions against Russia were inflicting more damage on Austria than on Russia, citing potential economic repercussions stemming from a crisis in Germany.

Nehammer has characterized Kickl as a conspiracy theorist who is merely shouting from the sidelines while he governs Austria. Since 2021, Nehammer has led a coalition with the Greens, but this partnership has faced tensions amid economic struggles and rising inflation.

Some voters believe Nehammer’s response to recent severe flooding in Austria has improved his standing in the election aftermath.

Susanne Pinter, a 55-year-old supporter of the Greens in Vienna, expressed concern that a far-right victory could have detrimental effects on women, migrants, and climate initiatives. “If the FPO wins, it will have bad consequences for women, people of migrant origin, and climate change,” she warned.