VIENNA — Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, expressed his intent to “govern Austria honestly” as he embarks on coalition talks to form a new government. This marks his first statement since being tasked with leading the formation of a government, despite having faced criticism from conservative parties in the past.
Kickl indicated that he is ready for new elections should coalition negotiations not pan out successfully. His party, known for its pro-Russia stance and strong anti-immigration, euroskeptic ideologies, emerged victorious in Austria’s parliamentary elections held in September. Nonetheless, initially, other political factions had distanced themselves from Kickl’s party. Their efforts to establish a coalition without the Freedom Party ultimately fell short.
Following a sudden policy shift from the conservative Austrian People’s Party, led by resigned Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Kickl was authorized to attempt the formation of a government. This would mark the first time in post-World War II history that a far-right party leads the national government in Austria. Nehammer’s prior refusal to work with the Freedom Party seems to have changed dramatically leading up to this point.
Kickl, known for his controversial approach, acknowledged the past tensions with the People’s Party, especially as Nehammer had labeled him a “security risk.” During the election campaign, interim leader Christian Stocker made comments suggesting that voting for Kickl meant endorsing potentially damaging radical ideas. Kickl, critiquing the current state of the nation, stated that the previous administration had driven the country into a “wall,” particularly highlighting budget deficits and a significant loss of trust in established political entities. He emphasized a straightforward goal: to lead the nation with integrity.
While emphasizing his desire to collaborate with Stocker, Kickl did not shy away from recognizing the difficulty of this endeavor due to their shared history. He underscored the importance of acknowledging who rightfully won the election and stressed the need for accountability regarding past political failures. Kickl asserts that stable and consistent leadership is crucial; otherwise, he is ready to advocate for fresh elections.
The Freedom Party secured 28.8% of the vote in the September elections—an increase of nearly 13 percentage points compared to the previous election cycle where it suffered consequences following governmental scandals. The Austrian People’s Party finished with 26.3%, while the traditional opposition, the Social Democrats, garnered 21.1% of the votes.
Since the elections, the Freedom Party has seen a rise in polls, climbing as high as 35% to 37% according to December surveys, reflecting the struggles of other parties to establish effective collaboration. Kickl did not outline specific policies for Austria in his remarks and declined to answer questions from the press.
The Freedom Party functions within a broader right-wing populist alliance in the European Parliament, known as Patriots for Europe, alongside leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Geert Wilders from the Netherlands. As political maneuvering continues, it remains uncertain who will step in as interim chancellor as Kickl pursues coalition options, with Nehammer scheduled to resign on Friday.
