Austria faces tight election as far right seeks historic victory

Supporters of Freedom Party (FPOe) be their last predetermination rally successful Vienna, Austria. (Reuters)

“What’s astatine involvement is whether the FPO volition name the chancellor oregon not,” said governmental subject prof Kathrin Stainer-Haemmerle. If the far-right enactment wins, it could pb to important changes successful Austria’s narration with the European Union, arsenic Kickl has expressed admiration for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and criticised the EU, arsenic reported by Reuters. 

The eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO, which advocates stricter asylum policies and has been captious of Islam, precocious claimed a constrictive triumph implicit the OVP successful the European elections. If it wins this nationalist election, Austria would articulation respective EU countries, including the Netherlands and Germany, successful experiencing a surge successful far-right support.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has expressed concerns astir the FPO, peculiarly its stance connected the EU and its absorption to condemning Russia’s penetration of Ukraine. He has hinted that, though it is normal for the first-placed enactment to signifier a government, helium whitethorn not needfully invitation Kickl to bash so.

Despite some the OVP and FPO supporting tougher migration rules, Nehammer has ruled retired forming a conjugation with Kickl arsenic the far-right party’s leader. “Ideally I would vanish into bladed aerial for you but I won’t bash you that favour, Mr Nehammer,” Kickl remarked this week erstwhile asked if helium would measurement speech to let his enactment to articulation the authorities arsenic a inferior partner.

Kickl has pledged to halt asylum claims wholly and make a “fortress Austria” to artifact migrants, though specified measures are wide seen arsenic impractical oregon illegal. He besides criticised sanctions against Moscow, claiming they harm Austria much than Russia.

Nehammer, who has led a conjugation authorities with the Greens since 2021, has worked to contiguous himself arsenic a stabilising force, peculiarly successful airy of caller terrible flooding successful Austria. His effect to the situation has apt helped him summation crushed successful the last days of the predetermination race.

“If the FPO wins … it’ll person atrocious consequences for women, radical of migrant root and clime change,” said 55-year-old Susanne Pinter, a Green Party protagonist successful Vienna.

(with inputs from Reuters)