Austria's Populist Problem: Analyzing The Country's Political Landscape

Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been described as a right-wing populist party. In the 2024 Austrian election, the FPÖ won 28.8% of the votes, beating the ruling ÖVP of Chancellor Karl Nehammer into second place. The FPÖ's leader, Herbert Kickl, has been described as a provocative and polarizing figure. The party's ideology has been described as anti-migrant, anti-Islam, and anti-establishment. The FPÖ has been accused of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. However, the party downplays its Nazi past and seeks to portray itself as an anti-establishment alternative to the mainstream center right and left. The question of whether Austria is populist is a complex one that requires further analysis and context beyond the scope of this paragraph.

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a right-wing populist party

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing pan-Germanists and national liberals opposed to socialism and Catholic clericalism. Its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer, but the party did not advocate far-right policies and presented itself as a centrist party.

In the 1980s, the Austrian political system began to change, and the Austrian electorate started to swing to the right. In 1986, Jörg Haider became the leader of the FPÖ, and the party began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism. This shift resulted in a strong surge in electoral support, with the FPÖ winning 26.9% of the vote in the 1999 election. However, the party soon lost most of its popularity, falling to 10% in the 2002 election. Internal tensions led Haider and much of the party leadership to leave in 2005, forming the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).

Under the leadership of Heinz-Christian Strache, who took over in 2005, the FPÖ gradually regained its popularity, peaking at 26.0% in the 2017 election. The party became junior partner in government with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). In May 2019, the so-called "Ibiza affair" led to the collapse of the coalition government and the resignation of Strache from his positions as vice-chancellor and party leader. In the subsequent snap election, the FPÖ's support fell to 16.2%.

In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the FPÖ's support increased significantly, with the party winning 28.85% of the vote and placing first. The party's platform includes anti-immigration, anti-Islam, and Eurosceptic policies, as well as support for regulated liberalism, privatisation, and low taxes. The FPÖ has been accused by the Austrian Mauthausen Committee of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology.

The FPÖ's leader Herbert Kickl has been described as a provocative and polarizing figure

The leader of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), Herbert Kickl, has been described as a provocative and polarising figure. Known for his inflammatory and offensive rhetoric, he has attracted one of the country's lowest personal approval ratings. Kickl's speeches in parliament are often filled with barbs and tirades against other parties, and his criticism of immigrants and gender politics is deeply offensive to many.

Kickl's provocative style was on full display during the 2024 election campaign, where he railed against anti-Russia sanctions, "snobs, headteachers and know-it-alls", climate activists, and "drag queens in schools". He also advocated for the "remigration", or forced deportation, of people who do not abide by Austrian society's rules.

Kickl's provocative language has led to accusations of dog-whistle politics and, at times, caused outrage. For example, during his time as interior minister, he suggested setting up "services centres and infrastructure that would allow the authorities to concentrate asylum seekers in one place", which was widely interpreted as an allusion to concentration camps. He also caused controversy by ordering a raid on the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism, seizing their data on right-wing extremist groups, including the Identitarian Movement of Austria, which is close to the FPÖ.

Despite his polarising and offensive rhetoric, Kickl is also described as a "very, very clear and very focused strategist" by political analyst Thomas Hofer. Indeed, Kickl's strategic cunning and ability to carefully calibrate his messaging helped the FPÖ achieve its first-ever national election win in 2024. He has also refused to bow to pressure to step aside, further demonstrating his strategic intelligence.

In summary, Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria's Freedom Party, is a provocative and polarising figure known for his offensive rhetoric and barbs against other parties. However, he is also a skilled strategist who played a key role in the FPÖ's historic election victory, demonstrating a rare combination of provocativeness and strategic intelligence.

The FPÖ has been described as a Euroskeptic party

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been described as a Euroskeptic party. It is a political party in Austria, described as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Eurosceptic. The party has a history rooted in the pan-German and national liberal camp, dating back to the Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas.

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), which was established in 1949 as an alternative to the mainstream socialist and Catholic camps in Austria. The VdU incorporated various political movements, including populists, former Nazis, and German nationalists, who had been unable to join the mainstream parties. Over time, the FPÖ presented itself as a centrist party, and its early leaders, such as Anton Reinthaller and Friedrich Peter, were former Nazi functionaries and SS officers.

In the 1980s, under the leadership of Norbert Steger, the FPÖ sought to establish itself as a moderate centrist liberal party, modelling itself after Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). However, this changed in 1986 when Jörg Haider became the leader of the FPÖ, and the party began an ideological shift towards right-wing populism. This shift resulted in a surge of electoral support for the FPÖ but also led to tensions and splits within the party.

Under Haider's leadership, the FPÖ became increasingly critical of the European Union and promoted Austrian nationalism. The party opposed Austria's joining the EU and the adoption of the euro. They also opposed Turkey's accession to the EU and have expressed support for Hungary's Viktor Orbán, who has been criticised for dismantling democratic freedoms. The FPÖ has been characterised as a Euroskeptic party due to its opposition to further European integration and its criticism of EU policies.

In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to be a prominent force in Austrian politics, with Herbert Kickl as its current leader. The party has campaigned on issues such as immigration, Islam, and the cost of living. While the FPÖ has faced controversies and scandals, such as the "Ibiza affair" in 2019, it has maintained a significant voter base and has influenced Austrian politics, including through coalition governments.

The FPÖ has been accused of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been accused of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. The party's roots can be traced back to the pan-German and national liberal camp, dating back to the Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas. While the party initially presented itself as a centrist party, it has undergone several ideological shifts throughout its history.

During the interwar period, the national liberal camp, which included the predecessor parties of the FPÖ, fought against the Marxist and Christian Social camps, advocating for an inclusion of Austria into a Greater Germany. This ultimately led to the establishment of an Austrofascist dictatorship in 1934 and the eventual absorption of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. While the FPÖ was founded in 1956 as a successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing national liberals and pan-Germanists, its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer.

Despite its initial centrist positioning, the FPÖ has been perceived as a right-wing extremist party due to the presence of former Nazis within its ranks. Over time, the party underwent an ideological turn towards right-wing populism under the leadership of Jörg Haider, who became the leader in 1986. This shift resulted in a surge of electoral support but also led to tensions within the party and a split, with Haider and a significant portion of the party leadership leaving to form the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) in 2005.

The FPÖ has been accused of possessing a neo-Nazi ideology and promoting right-wing extremism. This is evident in the party's anti-immigration, anti-Islam, and Eurosceptic stances, as well as its connections to other far-right parties across Europe. The party has capitalized on fears around migration, asylum, and crime, and has promoted policies such as "remigration" or forced deportation of people who do not conform to Austrian society's rules. Additionally, the FPÖ has expressed anti-EU sentiments and has opposed the accession of Turkey to the EU, threatening to leave the union if this were to occur.

The FPÖ has also been criticized for its connections to other far-right parties and its participation in forming a coalition government with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in 2000, which led to international condemnation and sanctions. The party has struggled with its shift from an anti-establishment stance to being part of the government, and its involvement in government has had mixed results, with periods of both increased and decreased electoral support.

In recent years, the FPÖ has faced controversies such as the Ibiza scandal in 2019, which involved the then-party leader Heinz-Christian Strache and resulted in snap elections. Despite these setbacks, the party has regained support and remains a significant force in Austrian politics, with Herbert Kickl commissioned by the Federal President to form a government as of 2025.

The FPÖ has been accused of using antisemitic fascist tropes to stir its base

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been accused of using antisemitic fascist tropes to stir its base. The party has been described as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and eurosceptic. The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing pan-Germanists and national liberals opposed to socialism and Catholic clericalism. The party's first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer.

In the 1980s, the Austrian political system began to change, and the Austrian electorate started to swing to the right. Jörg Haider became leader of the party in 1986, and under his leadership, the FPÖ began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism. This resulted in a strong surge in electoral support but also led to the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) breaking ties.

In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the FPÖ won 28.85% of the votes cast, placing first and achieving its best result in the party's history. The party's polarising lead candidate, Herbert Kickl, campaigned using the "people's chancellor" moniker once used to describe the Austrian-born Adolf Hitler. Kickl's campaign drew cheers from the crowd by railing against anti-Russia EU sanctions, "the snobs, headteachers and know-it-alls", climate activists, and "drag queens in schools and the early sexualisation of children". He also hailed a proposed constitutional amendment declaring the existence of only two genders and called for the "remigration", or forced deportation, of people "who think they don't have to play by the rules" of Austrian society.

Migrant groups have expressed fear for the future in Austria, which critics say has failed to fully own up to its Nazi past and role in the Holocaust. Rabbi Jacob Frenkel of Vienna's Jewish Council called the election a "moment of truth".

Frequently asked questions