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Austria in the hands of the FPÖ: historical turning point or danger?
Federal President Van der Bellen instructs FPÖ leader Kickl to form a government, while support and concerns are growing in Italy.
Austria in the hands of the FPÖ: historical turning point or danger?
The big turning point in Austrian politics: Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has commissioned the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) to form a new government, which has far-reaching consequences for the country and beyond. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was given this opportunity after the resignation of Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who was unable to successfully conclude coalition negotiations with the moderate parties. Loud Oe24 Italy's ruling party Lega under Matteo Salvini applauds this development and emphasizes its historical ties to the FPÖ. Salvini sees Kickl's appointment as a much-needed change against the integration of the Socialists and the ÖVP into the government.
The FPÖ, which received almost 29% of the vote in the last elections, will now potentially take the lead of an Austrian government for the first time. Kickl assured Van der Bellen that he was confident that he would be able to successfully fill the position of Chancellor. Meanwhile, concerns about the influence of the FPÖ are growing. Opposition voices, such as that of Senator Ivan Scalfarotto of Italia Viva, expressed concern about the rise of the far right and the potential impact on Europe and liberal democracies like it Yahoo News reported. Scalfarotto described Kickl's open sympathy for Nazi values as alarming for society and for Holocaust survivors who fear another dark day in European history.
Negotiations for a new government underway
Since the FPÖ and the conservative ÖVP have to conduct the necessary negotiations under the new leader Christian Stocker, there are already discussions about political differences, especially with regard to immigration issues and tax policy. Political analysts warn that the ÖVP could find itself in a difficult position if it acts as a junior partner of the FPÖ. Meanwhile, the FPÖ is flying high in the polls, which currently give them up to 35% of the vote. However, the economic challenges remain, as the budget crisis is a critical point for the negotiations.