Thu Jan 23 20:24:39 IST 2025: ## Austria’s Far-Right on Brink of Power, Raising Concerns Across Europe
Vienna, Austria – Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), a far-right party with Nazi roots, is poised to lead the country’s next government, sparking alarm across Europe. Following a collapse in centrist coalition talks, President Alexander Van der Bellen reluctantly tasked FPO leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government. The FPO, which won 29% of the vote in September’s election, is now negotiating a coalition with the center-right Austrian People’s Party (OVP), despite both parties’ pre-election pledges against such an alliance.
This development marks a significant escalation, as it would be the first time the FPO, founded by a former high-ranking SS officer, holds the senior partnership in a government. While the FPO and OVP previously formed a coalition in 2017, the FPO played a junior role. This time, the FPO will be the primary decision-maker, raising serious concerns about Austria’s political trajectory.
The FPO’s rise is viewed with particular concern given its past ties to Russia. During its previous stint in government, the party fostered close relations with Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, leading to spying scandals and increased Russian influence within Austria. While the FPO has toned down overt pro-Putin rhetoric since the Ukraine invasion, its connections remain deep, with former FPO officials now working at Kremlin-affiliated think tanks and the party advocating for a resumption of Russian gas trade. This is particularly worrying given Austria’s strategic role in European gas distribution.
The European Union’s response has been muted, despite the FPO’s manifesto advocating for policies seen as discriminatory and racist. While the EU initially threatened sanctions, it appears unwilling to strongly oppose the FPO’s ascension to power. This inaction is contrasted with the stronger response to the FPO’s entry into government in 2000.
Analysts attribute the FPO’s success to the failings of Austria’s centrist parties, which have been plagued by corruption scandals and have failed to regain public trust. This has created a vacuum that the FPO, despite its own history of scandals, has effectively filled by portraying itself as a radical alternative to the establishment.
The situation in Austria highlights a broader crisis facing European liberalism, mirroring similar trends in other countries. The rise of far-right parties across Europe is not solely their own making but also a consequence of the failures of centrist parties to address issues of corruption, and to build trust among the electorate. The implications extend beyond Austria, impacting European gas markets, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the core values of the European Union. The article suggests a need for a new approach to European liberalism, potentially inspired by the ideas of Austrian economist Leopold Kohr, advocating for greater autonomy and decentralization to counteract the appeal of populist, far-right movements.
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