Associated Press

Daily Mail

Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ) secured the most votes in national elections held on Sunday, becoming the largest group in parliament for the first time. However, it's far short of a majority.

The Telegraph

Under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, Austria's former interior minister, the FPÖ campaigned on a platform that included curbing migration and being neutral in foreign conflicts.

BBC News

Washington Post

According to official preliminary results, the FPÖ won 29.2% of the vote, while the ruling People's Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats (SPÖ) secured 26.5% and 21%, respectively.

This means that the FPÖ has won 56 seats in the 183-member Nationalrat, Austria's lower house of parliament, while the ÖVP got 52 and the SPÖ 41. About 74.9% of the 6.3M eligible voters participated in the election.

Economist

Al Jazeera

Austrian Pres. Alexander van der Bellen would call one of the parties to form the next government, which may not necessarily be the party with the most votes.

Reuters

Bloomberg

Most parties have long ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ; however, the ÖVP is expected to support it if Kickl gives up being prime minister. Negotiations to form a new government in Austria usually take months.

Associated Press #5499

Daily Mail #

Austria's right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) won the most votes in national elections for the first time ever on Sunday, becoming the largest group in parliament but still short of a majority.

Under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, a former interior minister, the FPÖ campaigned on a platform that includes curbing migration in the country and being neutral in foreign conflicts.

BBC News #

Washington Post #

According to official preliminary results, the FPÖ finished first, at 29.2%, trailed by the ruling center-right People's Party (ÖVP) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ), at 26.5% and 21%, respectively.

This means that the FPÖ secured 58 seats in the 183-member Nationalrat, Austria's lower house of parliament, with the ÖVP on 52 and the SPÖ on 41, after three in four of the 6.3M Austrians eligible to vote turned out for the general election.

Economist #763

Al Jazeera #3483

Now, it's up to the Austrian Pres. Alexander van der Bellen — who has no legal obligation to appoint the candidate from the most-voted party as chancellor — to allow one of the parties to form the government.

Reuters #

Bloomberg #

Most parties have long ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ, with the lone exception — the ÖVP — agreeing to do so only if Kickl gives up being prime minister. Negotiations to form a new government in Austria usually takes months.

Voters have had their say in Austria — and they have chosen FPÖ. Mainstream parties, however, are set to form a grand coalition to leave the election winner out of government in disregard of the will of the people. They may well claim that the FDÖ is a threat to democracy, but it's them who doesn't understand how democracy works.

Europeanconservative

AfD-Effect in Austria: Will Mainstream Parties Exclude FPÖ?

This was the most important election in Europe this year, and the results are quite concerning as the neofascist FPÖ won most seats in parliament. If the FPÖ ends up agreeing to build a coalition government with its longtime partner ÖVP, Austria would be in dire straits under a far-right leadership. Hopefully, Kickl will be rejected as chancellor.

POLITICO

Austrian election offers far right a springboard back to power

There's a 50% chance that the European Union will have at least 31 member states by 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

EU member states by 2040?

*** GETTY *** Alex Halada/AFP via Getty Images

Austria's Right-Wing Freedom Party Wins General Election

Austria

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Voters have had their say in Austria—and they have chosen the FPÖ. Mainstream parties, however, are set to form a grand coalition to leave the election winner out of government, disregarding the people's will. They may well claim that the FDÖ is a threat to democracy, but it's them who don't understand how democracy works.

This was the most critical election in Europe this year, and the results are pretty concerning as the neofascist FPÖ won most seats in parliament. If the FPÖ agrees to build a coalition government with its longtime partner ÖVP, Austria would be in dire straits under far-right leadership. Hopefully, Kickl will be rejected as chancellor.

There's a 50% chance that the EU will have at least 31 member states by 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Alex Halada/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

Austria's Freedom Party Wins General Election

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Austria's Freedom Party Wins General Election

Austria's Right-Wing Freedom Party Wins General Election

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