Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl, is poised for a historic general election victory, according to early projections. The latest results estimate the Freedom Party’s support at 29.1%, placing them almost three percentage points ahead of the conservative People’s Party, which stands at 26.2%. However, this figure still falls short of securing a parliamentary majority.
The Freedom Party has previously engaged in coalitions, yet the conservative People’s Party has expressed reluctance to form a government under Kickl’s leadership. Incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer from the People’s Party has labeled it “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories.”
Around 6.3 million Austrians participated in this election, which was largely influenced by pressing issues such as migration, asylum, inflation, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Michael Schnedlitz, the Freedom Party’s general secretary, celebrated the initial projections, asserting that “the men and women of Austria have made history today.” When asked about potential coalition talks, he refrained from providing specifics.
If projections hold, the Freedom Party could secure approximately 57 seats in the 183-seat parliament, while the People’s Party is expected to gain 51 and the Social Democrats around 41 seats. Herbert Kickl has vowed to create a “Fortress Austria,” aiming to restore security, prosperity, and peace for residents. He has also expressed a desire to become the “Volkskanzler” (people’s chancellor), a term that resonates deeply within Austrian historical context.
