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Austrian Far Right Promises Victory in Sunday’s Election as Tight Race Concludes

VIENNA (Reuters) – Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO), expressed his ambition to secure a historic victory in this weekend’s parliamentary election, despite recent polls indicating a tight race.

Focusing on concerns over immigration, the FPO has maintained a solid lead in surveys for over a year, driven by public dissatisfaction with rising inflation and a struggling economy. However, Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) has narrowed the gap, positioning Nehammer as a steady leader in contrast to Kickl’s more divisive approach.

In a populist rally held at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Kickl emphasized, "The people are the wind at our backs and the system is our headwind. We will prove it on Sunday." He noted the significance of the potential win, marking the first time since its founding in the 1950s that the party would achieve a parliamentary election victory. The FPO recently came close to this milestone by edging out the OVP in June’s European election.

Although the number of new arrivals in Austria has decreased significantly over the past year, Kickl has promised to implement stringent measures to halt migration, including the establishment of a "Fortress Austria" at the borders and an end to asylum grants.

While both the FPO and OVP share similar stances on immigration and economic policies, Nehammer has labeled Kickl as an extremist, expressing his willingness to consider a coalition but stating that the OVP would not collaborate with Kickl in a government.

Nehammer’s recent handling of severe flooding in Austria may have bolstered his image among voters.

Regardless of the outcome, neither party is expected to achieve an absolute majority, necessitating a coalition partner for a stable government. The FPO’s likely ally would be the OVP, while Nehammer might also explore an alliance with the Social Democrats and a smaller party.

In a pointed critique of Kickl, Nehammer stated at a closing rally that his party represents "the politics of the centre, against the radical, for stability instead of chaos. We do not live off problems; we solve them."

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