Austria’s President, Alexander Van der Bellen, has formally tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), with forming a coalition government.
If successful, this would mark the first time the Eurosceptic, Russia-aligned FPO, has governed Austria as the leading party. While the FPO has previously held power, it has only done so as a junior coalition partner.
The Freedom Party emerged as the largest party in September’s election, securing approximately 29% of the vote. However, it was initially sidelined, as President Van der Bellen opted against inviting Kickl to form a government, a decision that angered the FPO. At the time, leaders of all other parties had ruled out collaborating with Kickl.
Instead, in October, Van der Bellen assigned the task of forming a coalition to the conservative People’s Party (OVP), which had secured 26% of the vote and finished second. The OVP’s then-leader, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, had labelled Kickl a conspiracy theorist and a security risk.
Efforts by Nehammer to construct a coalition—first with three parties, and then with two—ultimately failed. Following the collapse of these negotiations, Nehammer resigned, and the ÖVP’s new leader, Christian Stocker, indicated a willingness to talk with Kickl.
President Van der Bellen’s decision to invite Kickl to form a government represents a significant shift. The president, a former leader of the Green Party, has long been a vocal critic of the Freedom Party and has expressed doubts about Kickl’s suitability as Chancellor.
In a statement on Monday, Van der Bellen acknowledged the gravity of his decision, emphasising his commitment to upholding Austria’s constitutional principles. He pledged to remain vigilant in safeguarding democratic values, including human rights, independent media, and Austria’s membership in the European Union.
The Freedom Party and the OVP share common ground on migration policy but diverge sharply on issues such as EU integration and support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
While coalition negotiations typically take two to three months, a quicker resolution is possible. Should the talks fail, Austria could face a snap election, with recent polls suggesting rising support for the Freedom Party since September.
Frances Ibiefo
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