Austria's Lockdown: What You Need To Know

In 2023, Austria tried to shut down foreign nuclear reactors near its borders by offering to supply Czecho-Slovakia with electricity for free if they ceased operations at the Jaslovske and Bohunice plants. In 1978, Austrians voted to exclude nuclear power from the country's energy plans, but they are surrounded by nuclear facilities in neighbouring countries, and fear that an accident will affect them. In addition to Czecho-Slovakia, Austria has also pushed for the closure of Czech reactors at Dukovany and Temelin, as well as reactors in Yugoslavia and Germany.

Austrian climate activists Letzte Generation shut down protests

Austrian climate activists Letzte Generation, also known as Last Generation, have shut down their protests, citing a lack of perspective for success and expressing disappointment in Austrian society. The group has been known for its radical protest methods, including road blockades and airport disruptions, which have severely disrupted the lives of everyday citizens and resulted in significant financial losses and endangerment of lives.

Letzte Generation's Austrian branch has stated that they are ending their protests because they believe Austrian society is ignorant of the impact of fossil fuels and their contribution to the deaths of billions of people due to a heating planet and ecological breakdown. They have accused the Austrian government of incompetence and claimed that their efforts to raise awareness about climate change have not been effective.

The group's actions have included blockading highways, gluing themselves to busy roads and airport runways, and defacing buildings and statues. While their protests have garnered a lot of attention, they have also faced heavy criticism and even threats of violence and death. A survey published in December revealed that 72% of Austrians supported punishing climate activists with fines or prison sentences.

Despite ceasing their protests, Letzte Generation Austria maintains that their resistance will continue and that they are creating space for new opportunities to emerge. In contrast, the German branch of Letzte Generation has vowed to continue their disruptive actions, such as their airport campaign.

Letzte Generation has been active in several European countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, and Poland, and has staged numerous direct-action protests. Their actions in Germany have included blocking roads leading to major airports and gluing themselves to airport tarmacs, causing significant disruptions and delays.

Austria's chancellor resigns

Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer Resigns

Coalition Talks Collapse

Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced his resignation in January 2025, stepping down as chancellor and chairman of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP). This came after the collapse of coalition talks with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos party. The coalition's aim was to form a centrist government and prevent the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) from gaining power, despite their victory in the September 2024 national elections.

Political Landscape

The FPO, led by Herbert Kickl, won 28.8% to 29.2% of the vote in the September elections. However, their inability to find a coalition partner meant they could not govern. Nehammer refused to work with Kickl, and other parties followed suit, citing concerns over the FPO's far-right, eurosceptic, and Russia-friendly policies.

Impact and Future Scenarios

Nehammer's resignation leaves a leadership vacuum, with the possibility of either Kickl being tasked with forming a government or a snap election being called. The FPO welcomed the prospect of a new election, as opinion polls indicated their support had grown since September.

Previous Political Turmoil

Austria has experienced previous political upheaval, with a similar situation unfolding in 2019. In May of that year, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache of the FPO resigned after a covert video surfaced, showing him offering government contracts to a potential Russian benefactor. This led to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz calling for an early election and the end of the governing coalition.

Far-right Freedom Party (FPO) wins election

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won a landmark victory in the country's general election, claiming the largest share of votes and bringing an end to two decades of dominance by the centre-right People's Party (OVP). Led by Herbert Kickl, the FPO secured 28.8% of the vote, which translated to 56 seats in parliament, up 25 from the previous election. The FPO's victory reflects a backlash against immigration, inflation, and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FPO's campaign, invoking Austria's darker past, focused on anti-immigration rhetoric, Islamophobia, and opposition to EU sanctions on Russia. Kickl's controversial use of the title "people's chancellor", once associated with Adolf Hitler, sparked outrage but also resonated with a significant proportion of voters. The FPO leader's call for "remigration"—forcibly deporting immigrants judged to be unassimilated—was cheered by his supporters but shocked migrant communities. Attacks on climate activists, the EU, "elitist" politicians, and progressive education also garnered votes for the FPO.

The FPO's win has opened the door to a new era in Austrian politics, according to Kickl, who has aligned himself closely with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his self-styled "illiberal democracy". However, despite the FPO's election victory, it is not certain that they will be able to form a government. The FPO has previously been in a ruling coalition, but Karl Nehammer, the incumbent chancellor and leader of the second-placed OVP, has refused to take part in a government led by Kickl, whom he accuses of being a conspiracy theorist.

The Social Democrats, Greens, and Neos have all ruled out a partnership with the far right, leaving the conservatives as the only possible coalition partner for the FPO. However, the FPO would first have to address the OVP's refusal to accept Kickl as chancellor. Political analysts suggest that Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who oversees the formation of the government, may not give Kickl a direct mandate to form a coalition.

The FPO's victory in Austria is the latest in a string of far-right election successes across Europe, including Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Germany's AfD, and France's National Rally.

Austria's coalition talks collapse

Austrias coalition talks collapse

Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigns

Austria's coalition government talks collapsed in January 2025 after Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) broke off negotiations with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and resigned from his post. The liberal New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS) had withdrawn from the three-party coalition talks a day earlier, leaving the remaining parties unable to find common ground on key policy issues.

A shift to the far-right?

The collapse of the centrist coalition talks has paved the way for the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) to gain power. The FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, won the most votes in the September 2024 general election but was initially sidelined by other parties due to its controversial anti-immigration and pro-Russia stance. However, with the failure of centrist parties to form a coalition, President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked the FPÖ with holding talks to form a ruling coalition.

Growing far-right influence in Europe

The potential shift to a far-right-led government in Austria reflects a broader trend across Europe, where mainstream parties have struggled to keep far-right forces at bay. Austria could soon join a bloc of EU countries with far-right leadership, including Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Hungary. This development has raised concerns among democratic forces and highlighted the challenge for progressive movements in the region.

Political and economic implications

The coalition negotiations in Austria were marked by disagreements over economic policies, with the SPÖ pushing for taxation reforms and the ÖVP embracing the FPÖ's anti-immigration stance. The failure to form a stable government has important implications for Austria's economy and public finances, which were already facing challenges prior to the collapse of the talks.

Next steps

With Chancellor Nehammer's resignation, the two most likely options are for Herbert Kickl to be tasked with forming a new government or for a snap election to be called. While a coalition between the FPÖ and ÖVP is a possibility, it remains to be seen whether they can successfully negotiate and form a governing alliance, given their differing ideologies and priorities.

Austria tries to shut down foreign nuclear reactors

Austria has been notably opposed to nuclear energy for decades. In 1978, the country voted in a referendum to ban the use of nuclear fission for its energy supply until 1998. This law also prohibited the storage and transport of nuclear materials in or through Austria.

In 1997, the Austrian Parliament voted unanimously to maintain the country's anti-nuclear policy, and the country has continued to pressure its neighbours to abandon nuclear power. In 2012, Austria called on Europe to abandon nuclear power and specifically targeted the Czech Republic, urging it to dismantle the Temelin nuclear power plant near the Austrian border.

Austria has also taken legal action to prevent the inclusion of nuclear energy as a category of green investment by the European Union. Leonore Gewessler, Austria's Federal Minister for Climate Protection, called the idea of nuclear energy being considered "green" as "greenwashing".

Austria's efforts to shut down foreign nuclear reactors are driven by its commitment to an anti-nuclear stance, and it has actively advocated for and worked towards this goal through political and legal means.

In addition to Austria, several other European countries have decided to phase out nuclear energy, including Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland. These countries have chosen to transition to renewable energy sources or other alternatives.

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