Austria: The far-right FPO wins the election – The formation of a government is a puzzle – 2024-09-30 02:18:41

The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) confirms the opinion polls and secures the lead in today’s Austrian elections for the first time in the post-war era, with a percentage of 29% (+12.9).

BREAKING: Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO) has won Sunday’s general election, putting the far-right group in pole position to form a coalition for the first time since World War Two, projections show. https://t.co/RET4rGqh81

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According to the first official results, the centre-right People’s Party (ÖVP) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer stays away from 2019’s 37.5% and is limited to second place with 26.2% (-11.3), while the Socialist Party ( SPÖ) is in third place with 20.7% (-0.5). They are followed by the liberal NEOS with 9.1% (+1) and the Greens with 8.9% (-5). The Communist Party (KPÖ) with 2.3% (+1.6) looks like despite the increase in its percentage it will eventually remain out of parliament, as it has been continuously since the 50s, as well as the Beer Party (BIER) with 2.1% (+2). The entry limit is at 4%.

The only party that would agree to work with the FPÖ is the ÖVP, but Mr Nehammer has ruled out working with the highly controversial leader of the Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, who insists he wants to. to become “the people’s chancellor”. The “green” federal president Alexander van der Bellen, on the other hand, has hinted that he will not give the mandate to Mr. Kickle, leaving open the possibility of accepting someone else from the Freedom Party.

FPÖ secretary-general Michael Snedlitz said Austrians had “made history” with their vote, while party executive Christian Hafeneker called for Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s resignation: “When you suffer such a historic defeat, then there is only one kind of consequence.” . He also emphasized that his party should have the first choice for the search for a government partner.