Far-right Freedom Party on course for victory in Austria

The far-right Freedom Party had a lead over the governing conservatives in Austria’s national election yesterday and was well-placed for its first win in a parliamentary vote, a projection showed. But its chances of governing were unclear.

The projection for ORF public television, based on partial counting, put support for the Freedom Party at 29.2 per cent in the parliamentary election and Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party at 26.3 per cent. The centre-left Social Democrats were in third place with 20.5 per cent.

Herbert Kickl, a former interior minister and long-time campaign strategist who has led the Freedom Party since 2021, wants to become Austria’s new chancellor on the back of the first far-right national election win in post-Second World War Austria. But to become Austria’s new leader, he would need a coalition partner to command a majority in the lower house of parliament – and rivals have said they will not work with Mr Kickl in government.

“The voter has spoken. Change is wanted in our country,” Freedom Party general secretary Michael Schnedlitz said, though he acknowledged that “we don’t have the final result yet”.

People’s Party general secretary Christian Stocker conceded that “we didn’t achieve first place” but said his party had come back from lower poll ratings. And he reiterated Mr Nehammer’s refusal to form a coalition with Mr Kickl – “that was the case yesterday, and it is the case today and it will still be the case tomorrow”.