Austrian parties begin talks to form government after far-right victory

The main Austrian parties are preparing to launch a tense struggle to form a government amid warnings about the dangers to democracy after the far right’s historic victory in the general election, in which voters have emboldened traditional parties over the specter of migration and inflation. Punished.

On Sunday, the anti-Islam and pro-Kremlin FPÖ achieved its best result since it was founded after World War II by former Nazi officials and SS officers, with just over 29% of the vote. The result exceeded expectations and defeated the ruling party, the Conservative People’s Party (OVP), by almost three percentage points. The centre-left opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) achieved its worst result in its history with 21%, while the government’s minority partner the Greens fell to 8%.

The results show that the FPO increased by 13 points since the last parliamentary election in 2019, driven by strong support from young voters. Amid deep frustrations with the cost of living and the threat of migration, the far-right clearly won among Austrians, with 27% of the demographic under the age of 34, and 27% of those aged between 35 and 35. won even more decisively. ​​With 37% among people aged 59 years. The FPÖ also benefited from anger over the strict measures adopted by Austria during the Covid pandemic.

The FPÖ, which cites Hungarian Viktor Orban as a model, was only in third place with 22% among those over the age of 60. Instead, they gave their support to Chancellor Carl Nehmer’s ÖVP with 38% and the SPÖ with 24%.

Austria has often faced criticism for its lack of historical memory of the Nazi period, with Austria long considering itself the “first victim” of the Nazis despite its native son Adolf Hitler’s enthusiastic hosting of the Anschluss in 1938. .

Following Sunday’s results, the International Auschwitz Committee, which represents survivors of the Nazi death camp from 19 countries, condemned a “dangerous new chapter” in Austria.

Its vice-president, Christoph Huebner, declared that they rely on “the common ground of the Austrian Democrats to confront the historical amnesia and ideology of the old and new extreme right” in the interest of the country and Europe. ,

Despite its landslide victory, the FPÖ, which advocates a “Fortress Austria” against immigration and “emigration” or forced deportation of unwanted foreigners, will face an uphill battle to form a government, as it will be unable to win an absolute majority. I failed.

All the smaller parties have denied any cooperation with the militants. The ÖVP, which has worked with the militants on several occasions at the national and regional level, would be a potential partner, but has declared that a government led by FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl would be impossible.

Kikal regularly uses Nazi rhetoric in his speeches, attacks migrants, associates himself with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and was previously dismissed as interior minister. If the FPÖ is to realize its dream of capturing the chancellery, it will have to oust Kickl, an aide of late party leader Jörg Haider.

In celebration of his victory, Kikal urged the ÖVP and Prime Minister Nehmer to “sleep on the results for a few nights” before issuing a tough ultimatum.

A few hundred left-wing protesters gathered in front of the parliament in Vienna’s historic center late Sunday night, calling on democratic parties to stand firm against the FPÖ, and chanted “Kick out the Nazis” and “Never kick the can.”

The country’s president, Alexander Van der Bellen, former leader of the Greens and responsible for tasking parties with forming a government, urged the political class to preserve “the pillars of our liberal democracy.”

The slightest indirect provocation to unite to isolate the FPÖ could result in Nehmer, with the ÖVP in second place, forming a coalition with the Social Democrats and the Greens or the Liberal Neos, the only party in parliament other than the FPÖ. Which has increased. Election.

However, Vedran Dzihic, senior researcher at the Austrian Institute of International Affairs, believes the move would “carry huge risks.”

“This will reinforce (the FPÖ’s) rhetoric about ‘system parties’ and ‘loser coalitions’, re-energized disenchanted voters and bring them on the path of development,” he said. But he also said the alternative would be much worse with the extreme right in power, “endangering democracy and the rule of law.”

A far-right conservative coalition would “take Austria down the path of Hungary and Orbán… with more liberalism, more fear and provocation, less Europe and less stability in society”.

Dzihic, who recently published Ankommen (Arrival) about her experiences in Austria after fleeing the Bosnian War in 1993, said she saw herself and her children “directly in the crosshairs” when the FPO spoke about emigration returns. I talk.”

“When you yourself become the object of disgusting and violent fantasies of omnipotence, it scares you,” he said, adding that he is amazed that so many people in this country are willing to cast their vote for this party. ”

On the other hand, “still 71% of people clearly speak out in favor of democratic parties and reject the FPÖ,” he said: “This gives me hope that a large majority of this country will defend democracy and freedom in Austria. ” ,