Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) is projected to tie for first place with the ÖVP at a historic 28% in Sunday’s national elections, though hopes for a far-right chancellorship seem unlikely.
The FPÖ (Patriots of Europe) has previously been part of governing coalitions at regional and at the national level, but it has yet to secure a victory in a national election or have a member serve as chancellor – something that may change with the outcome of Sunday’s elections.
Asked about the rise in support for the party, FPÖ MEP Elisabeth Dieringer told Euractiv, “We listen carefully to people. We don’t change our mind every day.”
“That’s why we reach the hearts of people, their mind and their daily issues,” she added.
In the European Elections held in June, the FPÖ came out on top, narrowly beating the ÖVP (EPP) with 25.4%, compared to the latter’s 24.52%.
Since 2019, the FPÖ has been working to rebuild trust under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, following the involvement of former FPÖ leader and former vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache in the “Ibiza affair” that resulted in the collapse of Austria’s then-government, a coalition between then-chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s centre-right ÖVP.
The past week has seen a shake-up in the election campaign due to the impact of Storm Boris on Central Europe, which has brought climate and environmental issues back onto the agenda.
“That was not very much debated in the campaign before. Now it is,” Green MEP Thomas Waitz told Euractiv, adding that “it is demobilising far right voters”.
Expected coalition formations
In Austria’s multiparty political landscape, the FPÖ must secure a 50%+1 majority to govern. In other words, the party must form a coalition with at least one other party to secure the necessary majority. This will be a challenge for the FPÖ.
The latest polls indicate that Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Christian-democratic party is set to become the linchpin of the future coalition.
The party may have to choose between forming a coalition with the Freedom Party or aligning with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and a smaller junior partner, either the Greens or the liberal NEOS.
“I think for us Social Democrats, one thing is clear. No coalition with the extreme right,” SPÖ MEP Andreas Schieder (S&D) told Euractiv.
Van der Bellen as an obstacle to chancellorship
Securing the chancellorship may prove challenging for FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, as the Austrian president and former leader of the Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen, must approve the appointments of the chancellor, vice chancellor, and ministers, according to the constitution.
“The Austrian president is very powerful,” Reinhard Heinisch, Professor of Comparative Austrian Politics at the University of Salzburg, said. “He can veto any conservative and doesn’t have to justify it to anyone,” he added.
In a statement made last year, Van der Bellen indicated that he would not swear in anyone who “tries to promote an anti-European party, a party that does not condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine” – qualifiers that undoubtedly apply to Kickl’s party.
“I’m absolutely sure that the frontrunner of the Freedom Party will not be able to form a government because he will not find a majority in parliament,” ÖVP MEP Lukas Mandl (EPP) told Euractiv in an interview.
‘Breaking the constitution’?
Addressing the possibility of being denied the chance to form a government, Kickl said in an interview with Die Presse that the president would be “breaking the constitution.”
“If the FPÖ comes in first, they would have the right to start negotiations to form a government. But it doesn’t mean they have the right to form one,” explained Reinhard Heinisch, Professor of Comparative Austrian Politics at the University of Salzburg.
“It doesn’t depend on us. That’s what I call democracy, and the people elect,” said FPÖ MEP Elisabeth Dieringer, adding that “it’s not he that is making himself chancellor; it’s the population of Austria.”
In 2000, EU member states suspended bilateral relations with Austria following FPÖ’s entry into the governing coalition as the second-largest party alongside the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). However, this was not the case when the FPÖ joined the government in 2019.
“I don’t expect any reactions from the EU. Rather the opposite. There’s going to be a very loud silence,” said Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
Source: euractiv.com
