Austria’s far-right Freedom Party won the election, but the party lacks an absolute majority and must form a coalition to form a government.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won Austria’s general election for the first time, according to polls. The results indicate growing support for right-wing parties across Europe, largely driven by concerns over immigration.
The anti-euro and Russia-backed FPO party has been narrowly ahead of main rival and conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) led by incumbent Chancellor Karl Neuhammer in opinion polls for months. Immigration and economic concerns were central issues in the FPO’s election campaign.
The Freedom Party (FPO), led by Herbert Kickle, could get 29.1 percent of the vote and the conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) 26.2 percent, according to forecasts by the Foresight firm. The agency produced the statistics for broadcaster ORF. The forecast also says the center-left Social Democrats are likely to get 20.4 percent of the vote.
Another survey firm, Arge Valen, also made similar predictions. According to their forecast, the FPO would lead by a margin of about 4 percentage points, slightly higher than the final opinion poll.
78 percent of Austria’s 6.3 million voters voted in the election. After the election, almost half of Austria’s map turned dark blue, symbolizing the victory of the FPO. “The people of Austria have made history today,” said Michael Schnelitz, general secretary of the party.
Voter analysis showed that 35- to 59-year-olds voted most for the right-wing party, and women supported the FPO more than men.
The FPO is going to get about 56 seats in Austria’s 183-seat parliament. Besides, OVP is going to get 52 seats and Social Democrats 41 seats.
Even if it wins the election, the Freedom Party will have to form a coalition to form a government as it does not have an absolute majority. However, party leader Herbert Kickle (55) is a controversial figure and other party leaders have refused to work under him, raising fears about forming a stable government.
The FPO’s anti-immigration stance and criticism of EU policies, particularly sanctions against Russia, have raised concerns among many.
Sara Wolf, a 22-year-old graphic designer and supporter of the Austrian Communist Party, expressed concern before the vote, “If the FPO really gets the most votes, we could face a Viktor Orbán-like situation of gradual media diversity, democracy and mutual understanding.” There are many dangerous signs of this.”
But Victor de Liser, a 17-year-old soldier and FPO supporter, said, “The FPO is the best-suited group to deal with the criminal violence caused by immigration.”
Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen could intervene in this situation because, according to the constitution, he would invite the first-placed party to form a government – there is no obligation.
The FPO, founded in the 1950s and led by a former Nazi lawmaker, plans to build “Fortress Austria” to halt immigration altogether and end asylum. New controversies over the party’s Nazi-related past have complicated the situation.
In a video published by Der Standard newspaper, members of the group attended a funeral where a popular Nazi SS song was sung.
Later, a Jewish student organization in Vienna filed a lawsuit against FPO members for violating anti-Nazi laws.
