Controversial leader Hebert Kickl has led the Austrian Freedom Party to a narrow win, and now faces a challenge finding a coalition partner who would be willing to work with him.
ADVERTISEMENTThe far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) have made history after narrowly winning Austria’s general election with 29% of the vote making them the dominant party for the first time in their post World War II history.
They however face challenges moving forward in forming a coalition, as Austria’s other main parties have ruled out working with it and its controversial leader, Hebert Kickl.
The FPÖ could even find itself locked out of government all together if other parties form a coalition in order to keep it out.
Experts have said that the party has successfully managed to tap into Austrian’s anxieties such as housing and a straining healthcare system, often successfully blaming migration for a host of other issues.
“I think that migration itself is not the major issue. It is probably one of the most visible changes that’s why people resist and react to it in more emotional way. What the actual problems are, the crisis of the health system, education, “Cengiz Günay, the director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (OIIP) said.
Kickl is critical of military aid sent to Ukraine, and has proposed ending sanctions against Russia.
It is likely that the other four parties who have secured seats in Austria’s parliament will look for ways to form a coalition without Kickl and his party.
Austria’s political future remains up in the air as the five political party parties are set to begin negotiations in order to form its next parliament.
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