Blitz Bureau
VIENNA: Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has opened the door to a new era, its leader Herbert Kickl has told supporters, as they celebrated an unprecedented election victory.
Kickl’s party won 28.9% of the vote according to official tallies – almost three points ahead of the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) on 26.3%, but far short of a majority, according to a BBC report.
Kickl’s victory is only the latest in a string of far-right election successes in Europe. He praised voters for their “optimism, courage and trust” in delivering a “piece of history”. The FPÖ has been in coalition before, but the second-placed ÖVP has refused to take part in a government led by Kickl.
Kickl’s main rival, incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP, has said it was “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories”.
There was a high turnout of 77.3% as Austrian voters took part in an election dominated by the twin issues of migration and asylum, as well as a flagging economy and the war in Ukraine.
As half the map of Austria turned dark blue, FPÖ general secretary Michael Schnedlitz said “the men and women of Austria have made history today”, although he refused to say what kind of coalition his party would try to build.
Postal votes were still being counted on September 30 morning, but an analysis of voters suggested those aged 35-59 were most likely to back the far right, and marginally more women than men.
Kickl’s party has won 57 seats in the 183-seat parliament, with the conservatives on 51 and the Social Democrats on 41, according to government projections.
