Austria’s far-right Freedom Party wins election sending nervous shockwaves around Europe with their history. Just under a 100 years ago, World War One started with Austrians nationalists and Serbians.
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) has topped the country’s national elections in a historic victory but it needs to find partners to form a governing coalition.
The Far right in Austria have a long history, Nationalists in Serbia and Austria were the reason for first world war broke out, known as the ‘shot that was heard around the world’; the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
The FPOe won 28.8 percent of votes, beating the ruling conservative People’s Party (OeVP) into second place at 26.3 percent, according to near-complete results.
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party wins election but the far right might struggle to form a coalition
However, the far right might struggle to form a coalition because most other parties have said they will not work with it.
Kickl’s victory is only the latest in a string of far-right election successes in Europe and he praised voters for their “optimism, courage and trust” in delivering a “piece of history”.
The FPÖ has been in coalition before, but the second-placed ÖVP has refused to take part in a government led by him.
Kickl’s main rival, incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP, has said it’s “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories”.
‘Our hand is outstretched’
Kickl, who took over the party’s leadership in 2021, said he was ready to form a government with “each and every one” of the parties in parliament.
“Our hand is outstretched in all directions,” he said.
Among FPOe supporters, the atmosphere was festive, as supporters wearing traditional Austrian dress downed glasses of beer.
There was a high turnout of 78% as Austria’s 6.3 million voters took part in an election dominated by the twin issues of Ukrainian migration and asylum, as well as a flagging economy and the war in Ukraine.