The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) of controversial party leader Herbert Kickl achieved a historic victory in last weekend's parliamentary elections. His party became the largest party with 29 percent of the vote and could potentially take the lead in forming a new Austrian coalition government.
This vote follows recent support for right-wing populist movements in EU countries that oppose immigration, the European Union, and sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine. This victory has made the FPÖ one of the most important pro-Russian voices in Central Europe.
With this result, the coalition of conservatives and Greens lost its majority. The Austrian shift to the right also corresponds to the recent regional election results in states in eastern Germany. There, the right-wing radical AfD emerged as the largest party.
The Austrian coalition talks will be difficult and complicated. The two other major parties, the centre-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) of Karl Nehammer and the social democratic SPÖ, are wary of a coalition with party leader Kickl of the FPÖ.
The conservative-bourgeois ÖVP, which came in second with 26% of the votes, seems to be divided on the question of whether or not to cooperate with the FPÖ. The social democratic SPÖ, which received 23% of the votes, has already made it clear that it rules out cooperation with the FPÖ.
It is also possible that the FPÖ will remain on the sidelines, despite their victory. If the ÖVP and SPÖ form a coalition with smaller parties, such as the Greens or the liberal NEOS, the FPÖ could be sidelined. However, this option would be politically risky, as the FPÖ could then strengthen its position as the largest opposition party, which would further consolidate its influence in the long term.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the direction Austria will take and how this could affect the broader European political landscape. The potential for political instability lurks as Austrian citizens, and the rest of Europe, watch the negotiations unfold.
Internationally, the FPÖ has the support of several other right-wing parties in Europe, such as the German AfD and the Dutch PVV, while other EU leaders are concerned about the growing influence of pro-Russian sentiment in Central Europe. The victory of the FPÖ, together with similar parties in Hungary and Slovakia, creates a strong bloc of Russia-friendly governments in the region.