Austria Faces Political Turmoil as Far-Right Party Achieves Historic Win
Austria's political landscape is on the brink of upheaval following the far-right Freedom Party's (FPÖ) historic electoral success, which has prompted widespread concern regarding the state of democracy in the country. The election, which took place on Sunday, revealed a deep-seated anger among voters directed at the centrist incumbents, primarily fueled by frustrations surrounding migration and soaring inflation.
The FPÖ, known for its anti-Islam stance and pro-Kremlin sentiments, garnered just over 29% of the vote, marking its strongest performance since its inception after World War II. This outcome surpassed even the most ambitious predictions and positioned the FPÖ ahead of the ruling center-right People's Party (ÖVP) by nearly three percentage points. Meanwhile, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) experienced its worst-ever showing, receiving 21% of the vote, while the Greens, the junior partners in the current government, sank to a mere 8%.
According to exit polls, the FPÖ's gain of 13 percentage points since the last parliamentary election in 2019 has been attributed largely to robust support among younger voters. Amid heightened living costs and palpable anxiety over immigration, the far-right party saw considerable backing from Austrians under 34, capturing 27% of that demographic, and an even more significant 37% among the 35 to 59 age group. The FPÖ's ascent was also bolstered by lingering resentment over the strict measures imposed during the Covid pandemic.
Despite its historic win, the FPÖ faces a daunting challenge in forming a government, as it did not secure an absolute majority. Smaller political parties have categorically ruled out alliances with the extremist faction. The ÖVP, which has previously collaborated with the FPÖ at both national and regional levels, would be the most likely partner but has declared that any government led by the divisive FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl would be unacceptable.
Kickl's rhetoric, often laced with Nazi undertones, has elicited fierce protests. Following the election results, a few hundred leftist demonstrators gathered outside Vienna's parliament building, ardently urging the democratic parties to unite against the FPÖ. Slogans like "Nazis out" and "Never Kickl" echoed through the streets, reflecting the anxiety surrounding the FPÖ's newfound power.
Furthermore, President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the Greens, has urged the political class to safeguard the principles of Austria's liberal democracy, implicitly encouraging a coalition among the ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens, or the liberal Neos, the only remaining party that gained seats in the election.
However, the prospect of such a coalition raises concerns. Vedran Džihić, a senior researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, cautioned that isolating the FPÖ could inadvertently reinforce its narrative of being a victim of the 'system' and a 'coalition of losers,' potentially benefiting their future electoral prospects.
Džihić highlighted the grim consequences of allowing the far-right party to gain governing power, likening it to the political landscape in Hungary under Viktor Orbán, marked by increased illiberalism and social instability. As a refugee from the Bosnian War, he noted a profound personal connection to the fears that the FPÖ's policies could cultivate, particularly regarding issues of migration.
Despite the disconcerting rise of the FPÖ, Džihić is optimistic as polling indicates that 71% of Austrians nonetheless support democratic parties and reject the FPÖ's ideologies. This suggests a significant portion of the electorate remains committed to preserving Austria's democratic values amid the alarming shift towards far-right political extremism.
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