The right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) has achieved a historic win in the national election, outpacing Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party (OVP) by three points. With 29.1% of the vote, the FPO has emerged as the leading party, while the OVP secured 26.2% and the Social Democrats came in at 20.4%. This victory marks a significant milestone for the FPO, which has never before won a national election in Austria.
Under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, the FPO campaigned on a platform of strict immigration controls and opposition to EU policies, such as sanctions on Russia. Despite its success at the polls, forming a government may prove challenging, as most of Austria’s establishment parties have ruled out working with the FPO. Nehammer’s OVP has expressed openness to cooperation, but not under Kickl’s leadership.
This victory reflects a broader trend of right-wing parties gaining ground in European politics. As the FPO celebrates its triumph, other nationalist parties across the continent are also making significant political gains.