MONITORING (SW) – Political parties on the European right celebrated the parliamentary election victory by Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO) as a boost for national conservatives amid advances by the hard right fuelled by worries about immigration.
Led by Herbert Kickl, who capitalized on a misfiring economy and concerns that Austria has taken in people faster than it can integrate them, the FPO won around 29% of the vote, a record result that may give it a platform to lead the next government.
Kickl must find a partner to form a stable coalition and he is loathed by other party leaders, who have refused to serve under him and quickly began discussing the possibility of sounding out alternatives to an FPO-led government.
However, there were warm words from allies in Europe, where the FPO forms part of a right-wing group inside the European Parliament led by France’s far-right National Rally (RN).
The win by the Eurosceptic FPO could sow division within the European Union over foreign policy areas such as support for Ukraine against Moscow’s invasion of the country.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook: “What a weekend!! After the Czech Republic, another victory for the Patriots across the border… No war, no migration and no gender propaganda!”
Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders, whose PVV party leads the Dutch government, responded to the FPO victory on X by saying: “We are winning! Times are changing! Identity, sovereignty, freedom and no more illegal immigration/asylum is what tens of millions of Europeans long for!”
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of the co-ruling League party said in a statement the Austrian vote was “a historic day in the name of change.”
