Austria’s far-right Freedom Party wins local elections in the state of Styria for the first time, shortly after voting closed.
This victory is a show of strength on behalf of the FPÖ, in the wake of the parliamentary elections in September. While the talks to form a coalition government without his participation continue.
Today’s election, Sunday 24 November, in Styria, home to Austria’s second city, Graz, has little direct national impact. But they are increasing pressure on party leaders trying to form a three-way coalition government for the first time since 1949.
Styria is only the second state to be won by the Eurosceptic, pro-Russian FPÖ. The first was Carinthia, the stronghold of then-leader Gerg Haider in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
«The victory in Styria is sweeping. I did not expect such a resounding resultFPÖ deputy leader in Styria, Stefan Herrmann, told national broadcaster ORF.
Estimates and polls
A screening of the Foresight poll for ORF and the APA news agency showed the FPÖ in first place with 35.3%. The conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) follows with 26.6%. The estimate, based on a 70% vote count, had a margin of error of one unit.
It is the first time since the Second World War that neither the ÖVP nor the Social Democrats (SPÖ) have won in Styria, a state bordering Slovenia.
The FPÖ in Austria will, however, need a partner to control a majority of seats in the local parliament and form a government.
In contrast to national elections, after which the Austrian president decides to whom he will entrust the formation of the government. In Styria the winning party, in this case the Freedom Party FPÖ, is automatically invited to form a local government.
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