Austria's Right-Wing Government: A Comprehensive Overview

Austria's government has been described as right-wing, with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPOe) forming a coalition government in January 2020. The ÖVP, led by Sebastian Kurz, is considered conservative, while the FPOe, led by Herbert Kickl, is a far-right party with a history of extremism and connections to Nazi ideology. The FPOe's election victory in September 2024, where it won 28.8% of the vote, marked a shift towards the far-right in Austrian politics and raised concerns about the country's democratic credentials.

The Freedom Party's mandate to lead the government

On Monday, January 6, 2025, the leader of Austria's Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, received a mandate to try to form a new government. This marks the first time since World War II that Austria's far-right party has been given the chance to lead a government.

The Freedom Party, known for its anti-immigration stance and eurosceptic views, won 28.8% of the vote in the September 2024 parliamentary election, surpassing the conservative Austrian People's Party, which came in second place. As a result, President Alexander Van der Bellen initially tasked the People's Party leader, Karl Nehammer, with forming a new government in October 2024. However, Nehammer's party refused to work with Kickl's Freedom Party, and other parties also refused to collaborate with the far-right group. These efforts to form a government without the far-right collapsed in early January 2025, leading to Nehammer's resignation.

Subsequently, the Austrian People's Party indicated its potential shift by signalling its willingness to join a government led by Kickl. Following a meeting at the presidential palace, Van der Bellen authorised the Freedom Party leader to initiate coalition talks with the People's Party to establish a new government. This development underscores the Freedom Party's mandate to lead the country's government.

The Freedom Party's election program, titled "Fortress Austria," provides insight into their governing mandate. The party has called for the remigration of uninvited foreigners and the creation of a more "homogeneous" nation through strict border controls and the suspension of asylum rights via emergency legislation. Additionally, they advocate for ending sanctions against Russia and are critical of Western military aid to Ukraine. The party also intends to withdraw Austria from the European Sky Shield Initiative, a German-led missile defence project.

The rise of the far-right in Austria

Historical Context

Austria's political landscape following World War II was dominated by the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) for decades. However, the country's political dynamics began to shift in the early 21st century, with the emergence of newer parties and the decline of the two traditional powerhouses. This power vacuum set the stage for the rise of the far-right in Austrian politics.

Enter the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU). The party has been characterised as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and eurosceptic. It gained prominence under the leadership of Jörg Haider, who steered the party towards right-wing populism, resulting in a surge of electoral support.

Coalition Governments and Normalisation

The FPÖ first entered a coalition government with the ÖVP in 2000, causing a boycott from other EU member states. However, the normalisation of the far-right in European politics, with similar parties in power in Hungary and Poland, meant that when the FPÖ returned to government in 2017, there was little such backlash. The FPÖ has since been a junior partner in coalition governments with the ÖVP, normalising its presence in Austrian politics.

Ideological Underpinnings

The FPÖ has been accused of right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology due to its roots—the party was founded by former Nazis and SS officers. It has campaigned on a strong anti-immigrant platform, denigrating migrants as criminals and welfare sponges. The party has also advocated for a halt to accepting asylum seekers and the banning of asylum seekers from becoming Austrian citizens. Additionally, the FPÖ has taken a eurosceptic stance, particularly in relation to Turkey's potential accession to the EU.

Impact and Influence

Recent Developments

In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the FPÖ's support increased significantly, placing first with 29.2% of the vote—its best result in the party's history. The party's leader, Herbert Kickl, was expected to enter into talks to form a new government, with a realistic chance of leading the country. This development caused concern among those worried about the implications for Austrian democracy and the rise of the far-right in Europe.

The Austrian People's Party

The ÖVP was founded in 1945 as an unofficial successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has been one of the two traditional major parties in Austria, alongside the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). The party was the most popular until 1970 and has traditionally governed in a grand coalition with the SPÖ. The ÖVP was the senior partner in grand coalitions from 1945 to 1966 and the junior partner from 1986 to 2000 and 2007 to 2017. The party also briefly governed alone from 1966 to 1970.

After the 1999 election, the ÖVP formed a coalition with the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) until 2003. This caused widespread outrage in Europe, leading to informal diplomatic sanctions on Austria by the European Union. In 2005, the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) split from the FPÖ and replaced it in the government coalition. However, in 2007, the ÖVP became the junior partner in a grand coalition with the SPÖ.

In the 2017 election, the ÖVP, led by Sebastian Kurz, became the largest party and formed a coalition government with the FPÖ. This coalition collapsed after eighteen months, leading to the 2019 election, after which the ÖVP formed a new coalition with The Greens.

The ÖVP has been described as a catch-all party of the centre-right, similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. It has traditionally defined itself as Catholic and anti-socialist, upholding a social market economy. However, under Kurz's leadership in 2017, the party shifted rightward, promising to crack down on illegal immigration and fight political Islam. This shift brought it closer to the FPÖ's platform.

In terms of Federal Assembly seats, the ÖVP has consistently been the strongest or second-strongest party and has led or been a partner in most Austrian federal cabinets. The party's colour was traditionally black, but it changed to turquoise under Kurz's chairmanship, along with the adoption of the alternate name, The New People's Party (Die neue Volkspartei).

The Social Democratic Party of Austria

At the start of World War I, the SDAPÖ was the strongest party in parliament. After the war, in 1918, the party leader Karl Renner became chancellor of the First Republic. The party lost power in 1920 but retained a strong base of support in the capital, Vienna. The SDAPÖ played an important role in the establishment of the First Republic and supported the idea of a union with Berlin to create a great democratic German republic. However, this was forbidden by the Allies in the Treaty of St. Germain.

During the interwar period, the SDAPÖ was almost hegemonic among the working class and developed an ambitious policy programme in Vienna, which included a vast construction plan for workers' housing and the introduction of free medical care. However, the party faced escalating conflict with right-wing forces, which culminated in its banning under the Austrofascist dictatorship from 1934 to 1938. During this time, the party was heavily persecuted, and many of its members were imprisoned.

In 1945, after the end of World War II, the party was reconstituted as the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ) and entered into a grand coalition government with the ÖVP, which lasted until 1966. This coalition was marked by a desire to stabilise the political and social situation and concentrate on economic growth and social equality. During this period, the SPÖ introduced a number of reforms, including a new law on workers' vacation regulations.

From 1971 to 1983, under Bruno Kreisky, the SPÖ was the sole governing party. For the following three years, it ruled in coalition with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). Then, up until 2000, the SPÖ was again part of a grand coalition with the ÖVP. During this time, the grand coalition combined with the "Proporz" system, which led to rising discontent and the growing popularity of the FPÖ. In the 1999 election, the SPÖ came first, but the FPÖ and ÖVP formed a right-wing coalition, displacing the Social Democrats from government.

In recent years, the SPÖ has faced some challenges and has been in opposition to the ÖVP-led governments. In the 2019 legislative election, the party lost 12 seats and shrank to 21.2% of the vote. However, in January 2020, the SPÖ received almost 50% of the votes in regional elections in the State of Burgenland, allowing it to govern without a junior coalition partner.

The Green Party

The Greens advocate for ecological issues such as environmental protection, as well as campaigning for the rights of minorities and promoting a socio-ecological tax reform. Their basic values, according to their 2001 charter, include direct democracy, nonviolence, ecology, solidarity, feminism, and self-determination. The party is a member of the European Green Party and Global Greens.

In the 2019 snap legislative election, the Greens returned to the National Council with their best-ever result in a legislative election, scoring 13.9% of the vote and electing 26 MPs. This strong showing made them a possible coalition partner for the People's Party, which had won the most votes and seats. Following negotiations, the two parties formed a coalition government, with the Greens as the junior partner.

However, the Greens have had to make concessions on other issues, such as agreeing to hardline policies on immigration and a ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools. These concessions have been difficult for some left-wing members of the party to accept.

Overall, the Green Party in Austria has played a significant role in shaping the country's environmental policies and promoting their values while navigating the challenges of being a junior partner in a coalition government.

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