Austria's Fpo: Friend Or Foe Of The Eu?

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) is a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and eurosceptic political party. It has been led by Herbert Kickl since 2021 and is the largest of five parties in the National Council, with 57 out of 183 seats. The FPO has been described as anti-migration, pro-Kremlin, and anti-establishment. It has also been accused of right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. The party's relationship with Russia has been a source of controversy, with a former domestic intelligence official accused of passing information to Russia during the FPO's time in power. The FPO's election campaigns have focused on issues such as immigration, Islam, and internal security, and it has called for a referendum on immigration restrictions. The party's ideology and platform have evolved over time, but it remains a controversial force in Austrian politics, with some commentators suggesting that its inclusion in the government could lead to Austria joining a bloc of EU countries led by the far-right.

The FPÖ's stance on the EU

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and eurosceptic political party. It is currently led by Herbert Kickl, who is in talks to form a coalition government with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The FPÖ is known for its anti-immigration, pro-Kremlin, and pro-Russia stance, and has been criticised for its use of Nazi-era slogans and conspiracy theories.

The party's stance on the EU is complex and has evolved over time. While it is considered eurosceptic, the FPÖ does not advocate for Austria to leave the EU. Instead, it calls for significant reform of the Union and an end to what it perceives as political excesses by Brussels. The FPÖ is a founding member of the Patriots.eu group in the European Parliament and has formed alliances with other right-wing and eurosceptic parties.

• Opposition to Further Integration: The FPÖ opposes further political and economic integration within the EU. They criticise the centralisation of power in Brussels and want to protect Austrian sovereignty and independence.
• Criticism of EU Bureaucracy and Red Tape: The party is critical of excessive EU bureaucracy and red tape, calling for a reduction in regulations and administrative procedures.
• Opposition to EU Migration and Asylum Policies: The FPÖ is strongly against the EU's migration and asylum policies, particularly those related to the resettlement of refugees and the free movement of people within the EU. They advocate for stricter border controls and the repatriation of immigrants.
• Support for EU-Russia Relations: The FPÖ has long-standing ties with Russia and supports closer relations between the EU and Russia. They have opposed sanctions against Russia and criticised EU support for Ukraine.
• Opposition to EU Eco-Communism: The FPÖ is against what it calls "eco-communism", which includes policies related to environmental protection, climate change, and the green transition. They argue that these policies hurt Austrian economic interests.
• Support for EU Neutrality: The FPÖ supports Austria's traditional neutrality in foreign policy and is against the country joining NATO. They want Austria to stay out of EU defence initiatives and maintain its independence in security matters.

In summary, the FPÖ's stance on the EU is characterised by scepticism, opposition to further integration, and a desire to protect Austrian sovereignty. They seek to reform the EU to align it more closely with their nationalist and conservative ideals.

The party's relationship with Russia

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) has a history of cultivating close ties with Russia. In 2016, the FPO signed a Friendship Treaty with United Russia, Vladimir Putin's party. Karin Kneissl, appointed as Austria's foreign minister in 2017 on the FPO's recommendation, danced with Putin at her wedding in 2018 and now lives in Russia, where she was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Siberian tiger conservation.

The FPO has also been described as "Russia-friendly" and "pro-Kremlin". It has opposed sanctions against Russia and demanded that Austria halts its contributions to the European Peace Facility, the mechanism through which the EU has provided military support to Ukraine. The party has also called for a national referendum on sanctions against Russian energy.

The FPO's leader, Herbert Kickl, cites Hungary's Viktor Orban as a role model and campaigned on lifting sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. Kickl has also expressed support for Israel's right to self-defence in the 2023 Hamas-led attack and called for Austria to advocate for Israel within the EU.

The FPO's relationship with Russia has led to bizarre moments, such as when its members walked out of a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in protest at a supposed violation of Austria's principle of neutrality.

The FPO's Russian connections have come under scrutiny, particularly in light of the Ibiza affair, which involved a purported Russian national and led to the collapse of the coalition with the Austrian People's Party (OVP) in 2019.

The party's stance on immigration

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been described as a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and eurosceptic party. The party's stance on immigration has been a key part of its platform and has shifted over time.

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 and initially represented pan-Germanists and national liberals opposed to socialism and Catholic clericalism. In the 1980s, under the leadership of Norbert Steger, the party sought to style itself as a centrist liberal party. However, this changed in 1986 when Jörg Haider became the leader and began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism.

Under Haider, immigration became a central issue for the FPÖ. He discovered the migration issue and made it his main battle horse, which led to the split of the Liberal Forum in 1993. Haider's rhetoric often relativized National Socialism, and he was removed from his post as Governor of Carinthia in 1991 after praising the "orderly employment policy" of the Third Reich.

In the 1999 election, the FPÖ won 26.9% of the vote and formed a coalition government with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The FPÖ's platform at this time included calls for immigration restrictions and the party asserted that "Austria is not a country of immigration." The party also began to focus on Islam and Islamic extremism, vowing to outlaw the distribution of free copies of the Koran.

In the 2017 election, the FPÖ obtained 26% of the votes and once again formed a coalition with the ÖVP. During this period, the party continued its anti-immigration stance and supported measures to tighten the country's immigration policies, such as reducing the number of new asylum applications.

In 2019, the FPÖ was embroiled in the Ibiza scandal, which involved the release of a secretly recorded video of the party's leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, discussing a potential bribe from a woman purporting to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. This scandal led to the collapse of the FPÖ-ÖVP coalition and a significant drop in support for the FPÖ in the subsequent election.

In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to take a hard line on immigration and has been led by Herbert Kickl since 2021. Kickl has railed against immigrants with slogans such as "Fortress Austria" and "Austria First." The party's 2024 election platform included calls for remigration and strict border control measures, presenting Austria as a 'fortress.' The FPÖ also opposes the accession of Turkey to the EU and has called for a referendum on EU membership if Turkey joins or if there are further steps towards a federal superstate.

In summary, the FPÖ has a long history of taking a hard line on immigration and has used anti-immigration rhetoric as a key part of its platform, often combining it with anti-Islam and anti-EU sentiments. The party has shifted between more moderate and more extreme positions at different points in its history, but its stance on immigration has consistently been a central aspect of its political agenda.

The party's popularity

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has experienced fluctuations in popularity since its founding in 1956. Initially, the party struggled to gain traction, with modest support and weak electoral results. However, under the leadership of Norbert Steger in the early 1980s, the FPÖ sought to rebrand itself as a centrist liberal party, modelled after Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). This strategy proved unsuccessful, and the party faced internal strife due to low poll numbers.

In 1986, Jörg Haider became the leader of the FPÖ, marking a pivotal moment in the party's history. Haider steered the party towards right-wing populism, resulting in a surge of electoral support. The FPÖ's popularity continued to grow, and in the 1999 election, it won 26.9% of the vote, becoming the second-most popular party in Austria. However, this success was short-lived, as the FPÖ soon lost popularity, falling to 10% in the 2002 election. Internal tensions led to Haider's departure in 2005, and the party's support declined further.

In recent years, the FPÖ has regained momentum and established itself as a significant force in Austrian politics once again. Under the leadership of Heinz-Christian Strache, the party gradually rebuilt its popularity, peaking at 26.0% in the 2017 election. However, the Ibiza affair in May 2019 led to a government collapse and a drop in the FPÖ's support.

Currently, the FPÖ is led by Herbert Kickl, who took over in 2021. The party has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in popularity, with 28.85% of votes cast in the 2024 election. The FPÖ is now the largest party in the National Council, holding 57 out of 183 seats. This success can be attributed to various factors, including the party's ability to capitalise on issues such as economic concerns, immigration, and opposition to COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally, the FPÖ has effectively utilised social media and polarising rhetoric to reach a wide audience.

Looking ahead, the FPÖ's future remains uncertain. While it has gained significant support, it is unclear if this momentum can be sustained. The party's extreme positions and associations with right-wing extremism may hinder its ability to form stable coalitions. Furthermore, internal divisions and the potential for leadership changes could impact its popularity. Nonetheless, the FPÖ remains a force to be reckoned with in Austrian politics, and its performance in the upcoming elections will be closely watched.

The party's history

The Freedom Party of Austria (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, with the dominance of the SPÖ and ÖVP starting to erode, and the Austrian electorate beginning to swing to the right. In 1986, Jörg Haider became leader of the party, and the FPÖ began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism. This resulted in a strong surge in electoral support, but also led the SPÖ to break ties, and a splinter group to form the Liberal Forum in 1993.

In the 1999 election, the FPÖ won 26.9% of the vote, becoming the second-most popular party, ahead of the ÖVP. The two parties eventually reached a coalition agreement in which the ÖVP retained the office of chancellor. However, the FPÖ 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).

Heinz-Christian Strache then became leader, and the party gradually regained its popularity, peaking at 26.0% in the 2017 election. The FPÖ once again became junior partner in government with the ÖVP. In May 2019, the Ibiza affair led to the collapse of the coalition and the resignation of Strache from both his offices of vice-chancellor and party leader. In the resulting snap election, the FPÖ's support fell to 16.2%.

In 2021, Norbert Hofer replaced Strache as party leader, but he resigned in June 2021. On 7 June 2021, Herbert Kickl was elected the new leader of the party, a position he still holds. In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the FPÖ's support increased to 29.2% of the vote, placing first and achieving its best result in the party's history.

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