Far right wins close Austria election, a boost for Putin
NBCSEP 20 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.