Translated by Andrea Solazzo
The Austrian political landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, characterized by increasing fragmentation and the emergence of non-traditional political forces. The September 2024 parliamentary elections saw the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), led by Herbert Kickl, emerge as the most-voted force with 28.8% of the vote.
Despite this result, the mainstream parties initially ruled out the possibility of a coalition with the FPÖ: outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), attempted to form a government with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the NEOS liberals, but negotiations failed, leading to his resignation.
Against this backdrop, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen gave Herbert Kickl a mandate to form a new government, marking the first time in the country's democratic history that a far-right leader has received such a mandate since 1945.
““(Kickl) has the confidence to find workable solutions in government negotiations and wants to assume this responsibility.
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- Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Austria
Kickl expressed his intention to engage in coalition talks with the ÖVP, stressing the need to “govern Austria honestly” and to address the country's economic and political challenges.
However, major differences remain between the FPÖ and ÖVP on key issues, such as migration policy and participation in European defence initiatives. Kickl outlined several priorities for negotiations, including a more restrictive asylum policy, measures against excessive language regulation, and tax cuts for specific categories of workers.
The possibility of a Kickl-led government raises concerns both domestically and internationally. His euroskeptic positions and anti-immigration rhetoric could affect Austria's relations with the European Union and other international partners. In addition, the rise to power of a far-right party could have implications for social cohesion and perceptions of civil rights in the country.
Despite the mandate received, the formation of a stable government is not guaranteed: negotiations between the FPÖ and ÖVP could face obstacles, and the possibility of new elections is not ruled out. In addition, the Austrian population has expressed concerns about a possible far-right government, with protests already underway and more planned in the coming days.
Austria is thus at a delicate stage in its political history, with the increasingly tangible possibility that Herbert Kickl could lead the next government potentially not without repercussions both domestically and internationally. The formation of a stable coalition and the future policies adopted will be crucial to Austria's future role both domestically and in the European context.
MondoInternazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2024
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L'Autore
Riccardo Carboni
Classe 1999, laureato in Scienze internazionali e Diplomatiche presso l’Università di Bologna e da sempre appassionato di affari internazionali. Studente all’ultimo anno di Master in International Relations presso la LUISS, ha approfondito tematiche riguardanti la sicurezza internazionale seguendo forum e partecipando a programmi di pianificazione militari secondo la dottrina NATO. Autore all’interno di Mondo Internazionale per l’area tematica “Organizzazioni Internazionali”.
Born in 1999, he holds a bachelor’s degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Bologna and have always been passionate about international affairs. Currently a final-year student in the Master's degree program in International Relations at LUISS, he has delved into issues related to international security by following forums and participating in military planning programs based on NATO doctrine. Author and contributor to Mondo Internazionale for the "International Organisations” section.
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austria Herbert Kickl UE estrema destra governo