Austria's Far-Right Future: A Society Transformed?

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been making gains in national elections, sparking concerns about the country's political direction. The party's rise is part of a broader right-wing wave sweeping through Europe, and its success has been attributed to various factors, including toxic media discourse, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and immigration concerns. With its anti-immigration, anti-EU, and pro-Russia stance, the FPÖ has tapped into Austrian voters' worries, normalising far-right politics in the country. The question now is whether Austria's democratic forces can stem the tide of rising extremism and prevent a shift towards authoritarianism.

The Austrian Freedom Party's anti-Muslim and anti-immigration agenda

History and Development of Anti-Muslim and Anti-Immigration Agenda

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), founded in 1956, initially presented itself as a centrist party, but its ideology began to shift towards right-wing populism under the leadership of Jörg Haider in 1986. While immigration was not a significant issue for the party before the 1980s, it gradually became a central focus, with Haider framing it as a threat to Austrian identity and culture. This shift coincided with increasing disaffection among Austrian voters towards the two major parties, the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), allowing the FPÖ to position itself as a viable alternative.

In the 1990s, the FPÖ explicitly targeted immigrants from Turkish, former Yugoslavian, and African backgrounds, and its rhetoric became increasingly anti-Muslim. Haider's book "The Freedom I Mean" stated that "the societal foundations of Islam are diametrically opposed to our Western values." The party also began to describe itself as a defender of the Christian "Occident" and regarded Islam as a cultural threat. This marked a departure from its previous anticlerical stance.

Impact on Electoral Success and Public Discourse

The FPÖ's anti-Muslim and anti-immigration stance has been a significant factor in its electoral success. In the 1999 election, the party won 26.9% of the vote, becoming the second-most popular party. This shift towards right-wing populism and identity politics, with a focus on the "ethnic other," resonated with voters concerned about migration and cultural identity. Slogans such as "Vienna must not become Istanbul" and "No home for Islam" exemplified the party's messaging.

However, the FPÖ's participation in government coalitions with the ÖVP in the early 2000s led to a decline in its popularity, as it struggled to balance its anti-establishment image with the realities of governing. This internal tension culminated in Haider's departure from the party in 2005, after which the FPÖ reconstituted itself as a radical, right-wing, populist opposition party under the leadership of Heinz-Christian Strache.

In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to emphasize its anti-Muslim and anti-immigration stance, with Strache referring to himself as a "cultural Christian" to exclude Muslims. The party has advocated for the remigration of non-ethnic Europeans, including their descendants born in Europe, back to their racial origins, regardless of their Austrian citizenship. This has been framed as a pursuit of ethno-cultural "homogeneity" and has contributed to a growing perception of Muslims as a threat to Austrian identity and culture.

Impact on Other Political Parties and Public Discourse

The success of the FPÖ's anti-Muslim and anti-immigration agenda has influenced the strategies of other mainstream political parties in Austria. Initially, the SPÖ and ÖVP adopted a policy of ostracism towards the FPÖ, but they gradually moved closer to the FPÖ's positions on migration to neutralize its electoral appeal. This strategy, however, was largely unsuccessful, as it failed to address the underlying concerns of FPÖ voters and validated the FPÖ's claims.

As a result, the SPÖ and ÖVP began to adopt more restrictive approaches to immigration and Islam, mirroring the FPÖ's rhetoric. This shift was particularly notable in the ÖVP, which, under the leadership of Sebastian Kurz, embraced an even harder line on migration and Islam to compete with the FPÖ. This strategy proved electorally successful for the ÖVP, as it managed to win back voters from the FPÖ and form a coalition government with them in 2017.

In conclusion, the Austrian Freedom Party's anti-Muslim and anti-immigration agenda has been a central and evolving aspect of its political platform. It has contributed to the party's electoral success and influenced the approaches of other mainstream parties, shaping the broader public discourse on immigration and Islam in Austria.

The normalisation of the far-right in Austria

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been making alarming gains in recent years, becoming a dominant force in national elections and normalising extremist ideology in the country's political discourse. The party's success is a stark warning for progressives and democratic forces across Europe, underscoring the urgent need to address the rising tide of far-right extremism.

A Surge of the Far-Right in Austria

Austria has witnessed a significant shift towards the far-right in recent years, with the Freedom Party (FPÖ) emerging as a dominant political force. In the September 2024 general election, the FPÖ secured 28.9% to 29% of the vote, surpassing the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats. This marked the poorest result for the Social Democrats and propelled the FPÖ to the forefront of Austrian politics. The party's rise has been attributed to various factors, including toxic media discourse, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and growing concerns over migration and security.

Normalisation of Extremist Ideology

Impact on Austrian Society and Politics

The FPÖ's influence extends beyond election results. The party has systematically invested in propaganda and built an alternative media universe, transforming Austria's political culture. It has also influenced the country's traditional conservative party, the ÖVP, which has adopted a harder line on immigration, such as proposing to confiscate asylum-seekers' valuables at the border. This shift has failed to pay off, as voters who support such policies have largely turned to the FPÖ instead.

A Warning for Europe

Austria's experience serves as a cautionary tale for the rest of Europe. The normalisation of the far-right has been facilitated by established conservative elites, who have elevated far-right parties to governing positions and adopted their ideas. This has resulted in the mainstreaming of extremist ideology and a shift in societal opinion. The rise of the far-right in Austria is part of a broader trend across Europe, with far-right parties gaining influence in countries like Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Addressing the Challenge

To stem the rise of the far-right, democratic parties must understand the underlying factors driving its support. This includes addressing public concerns effectively, such as economic hardships and immigration, without resorting to far-right rhetoric or scapegoating. It is crucial to emphasise and protect liberal-democratic values while presenting compelling programmes that address voters' worries. Additionally, it is essential to expose the contradictions and oversimplifications in far-right discourse and offer viable solutions to complex issues.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on far-right support

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the rise of far-right support in Austria. The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has effectively leveraged the pandemic to stoke fears and spread conspiracy theories, presenting itself as a critic of the government and a champion of individual freedom.

During the pandemic, the Austrian government imposed four nationwide lockdowns, stiff penalties for non-compliance, and prolonged school closures. The Freedom Party strongly opposed these measures, denouncing them as "human rights violations" and labelling the government as "tyrannical" and "dictatorial". The party's leader, Herbert Kickl, even went so far as to claim that "Austria is a dictatorship" in response to the country's vaccination mandate. This rhetoric resonated with a significant portion of the Austrian population, and the Freedom Party's poll ratings rose sharply during this period.

The pandemic also exacerbated existing economic inequalities and fuelled a sense of discontent among Austrians. The economic crises of recent years, particularly the inflation crisis, provided fertile ground for the far-right to spread their message. The Freedom Party tapped into these economic anxieties, blaming them on immigration and "elites". They called for the remigration of uninvited foreigners and the suspension of the right to asylum, playing on fears of "cultural panic" surrounding Islam and concerns about the strain on infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a broader sense of uncertainty and instability, which the Freedom Party was quick to exploit. By presenting themselves as a crisis manager, the party and its leader, Herbert Kickl, offered a sense of strength and stability to anxious voters. This was particularly effective in the context of other crises, such as the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices, which had also contributed to a sense of instability and dissatisfaction with the governing parties.

Additionally, the pandemic and the accompanying restrictions brought long-standing issues of social division and cultural conflict to the forefront of Austrian politics. The Freedom Party was able to capitalise on these tensions, promoting a homogenous and exclusionary vision of Austrian identity. They tapped into fears of "Islamisation" and stoked concerns about immigration, presenting themselves as the defenders of a traditional Austrian way of life.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in the rise of far-right support in Austria. The Freedom Party effectively utilised the pandemic to spread fear, conspiracy theories, and anti-establishment sentiment, while also exploiting the economic and social fallout of the pandemic to promote their extremist agenda.

The Freedom Party's use of Nazi terminology and its links to neo-Nazism

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been described as a far-right, anti-elite, and populist party. Its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer. Reinthaller was succeeded by Friedrich Peter, who also had a background in the SS.

Under the leadership of Jörg Haider, the party took a more explicitly nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-EU turn. Haider, the son of Austrian Nazi Party members, had been involved in the FPÖ youth movement since 1970 and became the party's youngest delegate to parliament in 1979. In 1999, the FPÖ won 26.9% of the vote in nationwide legislative elections. In 2000, Haider and the FPÖ formed a coalition government with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). This was the first time a party with Nazi origins had become part of a European government since World War II.

In 2005, Heinz-Christian Strache was elected as the new chairman of the FPÖ. He led the party further to the right, focusing on anti-immigrant and anti-foreigner rhetoric. Strache's abrasive and populist style did little to endear him to the country's conservatives. In 2017, the FPÖ won 26% of the vote in parliamentary elections and formed a coalition government with the ÖVP.

The FPÖ has been accused by the Austrian Mauthausen Committee of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. Far-right expert Andreas Peham claims that antisemitism is built into the ideology of the party, which he says is "antisemitic to its core". The party has also been criticised for its use of inflammatory language and racist slurs.

In its 2024 election program, titled "Fortress Austria", the FPÖ called for the "remigration of uninvited foreigners" and for achieving a more "homogeneous" nation by strictly controlling borders and suspending the right to asylum. The party has also called for an end to sanctions against Russia and has been critical of Western military aid to Ukraine.

The role of the Austrian People's Party in elevating the Freedom Party

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) has played a significant role in elevating the Freedom Party (FPÖ) to a position of power and influence in Austrian politics.

The ÖVP has been the junior partner to the FPÖ in several governments, including in 2000 when the FPÖ first entered government. The ÖVP retained the office of chancellor, while the FPÖ was given control of the Ministries of Finance and Social Affairs. This marked a turning point in Austrian politics, as it was the first time since World War II that a far-right party had been part of the governing coalition.

The coalition between the two parties collapsed in 2005 due to internal tensions within the FPÖ, which led to a split in the party. However, the FPÖ quickly regained its popularity, and in 2017, it once again became the junior partner in a coalition government with the ÖVP. This time, the FPÖ gained control of six ministries, including key portfolios such as defense, the interior, and foreign affairs.

The FPÖ's rise has been aided by the ÖVP's adoption of hard-line positions on immigration and other issues that align with the FPÖ's platform. This shift in the ÖVP's stance has made it more difficult for centrist parties to build effective coalitions to block the far right.

In the most recent election in September 2024, the FPÖ emerged as the dominant political force, winning 28.8% to 26.3% for the ÖVP. The failure of the centrist parties to form a coalition has now paved the way for the FPÖ to lead the government for the first time since World War II, with the ÖVP once again expected to be the junior partner.

The repeated coalitions between the ÖVP and FPÖ, as well as the ideological convergence between the two parties, particularly on immigration, have played a significant role in normalising the FPÖ and elevating it to a position of power and influence in Austrian politics.

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