(Scypre.com) – The right-populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) secured a historic victory in Austria’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, emerging as the top party and nearly doubling its number of seats. This election marks the first time the FPÖ has won a parliamentary election, signaling a major political shift in the country.
The FPÖ captured 28.8% of the vote, which translated into 56 seats in Austria’s National Council, the dominant lower house of parliament. This represents a substantial gain from their 2019 election results, where they garnered only 16.2% of the vote and 31 seats.
In contrast, the governing coalition of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Greens saw a sharp decline in support, losing their parliamentary majority. The ÖVP fell from 37.5% of the vote and 71 seats in 2019 to just 26.3% and 52 seats in this election. The Greens also suffered, dropping from 13.9% and 26 seats to 8.3% of the vote and only 16 seats.
One of the key issues influencing voters during the campaign was Austria’s foreign policy, particularly the country’s involvement in providing aid to Ukraine. The FPÖ campaigned on cutting aid to Ukraine and lifting sanctions against Russia, positioning these actions as violations of Austria’s historical neutrality. In 2021, FPÖ deputies made headlines when they walked out of the Austrian parliament during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite Austria’s constitutional commitment to neutrality, the ÖVP-Green coalition had given over €250 million in aid to Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict.
Immigration was another focal point in the FPÖ’s campaign. The party advocated for stricter immigration controls and policies promoting “remigration,” calling for the establishment of a “Remigration Commissioner” at the European Union level. FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker emphasized the need for a sensible migration policy, stating in June, “What I have noticed in the last few weeks during the election campaign is that there is above all a need for sensible migration policy, that there is a need for remigration.” His comments came after the FPÖ’s success in the European elections earlier this year.
Despite their victory, the FPÖ’s path to forming a governing coalition remains uncertain. The party has previously governed alongside the ÖVP but only as the junior coalition partner. However, the ÖVP has expressed its unwillingness to back FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl for the position of Chancellor. Nonetheless, the FPÖ’s victory has been hailed by conservative figures across Europe. Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s foreign minister, celebrated the win in a Facebook post, stating, “What a weekend!! After the Czech Republic, another victory for the Patriots across the border…. No war, no migration, and no gender propaganda.” This success also bolsters the influence of the EU-level group Patriots for Europe, led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.