Far-right party to form government in Austria: WSJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Wall Street Journal
7 Jan 2025 12:05
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The Freedom Party secured victory in the last election but fell short of a majority, requiring it to seek a coalition partner to form a government.

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Head of the Freedom Party FPOE, Herbert Kickl, gestures during his speech at a final election campaign event at St. Stephen’s Square in Vienna, Austria on September 27, 2024. (AP)

Austria’s Freedom Party has been tasked with attempting to form the country’s first far-right-led government since World War II, marking another milestone in the rise of anti-immigrant and populist parties across Europe, The Wall Street Journal.

On Monday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen granted Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl the opportunity to negotiate a coalition after previous efforts by other parties to form a government without the far-right failed. This development followed Saturday’s announcement by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who has led Austria since late 2021, that he would resign.

Although the Freedom Party has previously been part of governing coalitions, it has only served as a junior partner. The party secured first place in last year’s general election but failed to achieve a majority. As no single party gained more than 50% of the vote, a coalition is necessary to form a government.

Should coalition talks break down, Austria could face a snap election, with recent opinion polls indicating growing support for the Freedom Party.

“I may have certain wishes, but respect for the voters requires that I accept this majority,” Van der Bellen, a progressive and one of Austria’s most trusted politicians, remarked on Monday after his meeting with Kickl. “I did not take this step lightly.”

Austria’s political turmoil mirrors a broader European trend, where anti-immigrant and populist parties are capitalizing on issues such as rising migration, economic stagnation, and political instability, as per the report. This surge is disrupting traditional political dynamics and complicating the formation of stable governments across the continent.

Driving the news

Neighboring Germany is gearing up for the February elections, where the far-right AfD party has been gaining momentum, with opinion polls predicting it could secure second place.

Meanwhile, France continues to face political deadlock after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally made significant gains in last year’s general election and the European parliamentary elections.

Austria’s Freedom Party, criticized for its pro-Russia positions, anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and involvement in corruption scandals, emerged victorious in the September parliamentary elections. It secured around 29% of the vote, surpassing its previous record of nearly 27% in 1999.

Despite the win, President Alexander Van der Bellen initially gave the mandate to form a government to Karl Nehammer after his center-right People’s Party declined to partner with the Freedom Party. Nehammer attempted to build a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats and the liberal Neos party, but those efforts fell apart earlier this year. Subsequently, the People’s Party signaled a willingness to engage in discussions with Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl.

Recent opinion polls show the Freedom Party's support has grown to approximately 36%, while the People’s Party trails at 21%.

Kickl, a former interior minister, remains a polarizing figure in Austria, a nation of around nine million. Known for his confrontational and combative approach, he holds one of the lowest approval ratings among Austrian politicians.