According to forecasts, the right-wing populist FPÖ will be the strongest political force in Austria for the first time in a parliamentary election. Right-wing populists increased to 28.8 percent after 16.2 percent in 2019. So the FPÖ is ahead of the conservative presidential party, the ÖVP, which is said to have reached 26.3 percent, according to data from the Foresight Institute. On behalf of ORF (external link). In 2019 the ÖVP had 37.5 percent.
The SPÖ is the third strongest force
The social democratic SPÖ has 21.1 percent after 21.2 percent. The Greens, the most recent junior partner in a coalition with the ÖVP, lost 8.3 percent after 13.9 percent. Liberal NEOs are at 9.2 percent. “The voter has spoken today,” Gigl said during a televised debate with other leading candidates after the election. We are ready to lead the government. Likes to negotiate with all parties. What matters now is what the federal president does, Kickle acknowledged.
Federal President Alexander van der Bellen said he would hold talks with all parties represented in the National Council. He will try to explore what possible compromises there might be.
The ÖVP probably does not want an alliance with the FPÖ
The FPÖ has already been involved in government in Vienna several times, but so far only as a junior partner. If the predictions are confirmed and the right-wing populists do indeed become a strong force in the Austrian National Council, it is still uncertain whether the strong-right party leader Gigl will be able to find coalition partners. Chancellor and ÖVP leader Karl Nehhammer, for example, has repeatedly ruled out working with Kickle as head of government. After the election, ÖVP General Secretary Christian Stocker reiterated his rejection of the FPÖ. Nehhammer explained further: “What I said before the election I will say after the election.”
Former interior minister Kikl took over the FPÖ leadership in 2021 after his party’s “Ibizagate” scandal. He brought the FPÖ together with conspiracy stories about corona security measures, hostile slogans against immigrants and sharp criticism of support for Ukraine in the face of a Russian war of aggression.
With information from AFP and Reuters.
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