Protests against rising far right party draw tens of thousands in Austria

With the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) leading the Austrian government’s coalition talks for the first time in the country’s history, an estimated 50,000 people rallied in Vienna to urge the conservative People’s Party (OeVP) not to join forces with the FPOe.

Tens of thousands of people protested across Austria on Thursday against the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe)’s possible return to power after it was tasked with trying to form a government.

While the far-right party has previously been a member of the country’s government several times, it is the first time that it is leading coalition talks.

The FPOe topped the September national election for the first time ever, winning almost 29 percent of the vote, but initially all other parties refused to enter into a cabinet with it.

But after talks between other parties collapsed, the FPOe was tasked earlier this week with trying to form a government with the conservative People’s Party (OeVP), which in a U-turn said it was open to the idea.

Protests against rising far right party draw tens of thousands in Austria