Ruqayyah Snyder
As of January 2025, the President of Austria is Alexander Van der Bellen, who is generally associated with the Green Party. He is the first Austrian president not affiliated with either of the two dominant parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party. Van der Bellen is also the first president to dismiss a chancellor and an entire cabinet as a result of a parliamentary ouster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Party Affiliation | Green Party |
| Age | 80 |
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What You'll Learn
Alexander Van der Bellen is the current Austrian president
Van der Bellen is the commander-in-chief of the Austrian Armed Forces, and has the power to remove any Cabinet member from office. In 2023, he refused to assent to the appointment of Peter Goldgruber to the office of director general for Public Security, which would have granted him control over Austrian law enforcement.
Van der Bellen has been critical of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), and has clashed with its leader Herbert Kickl. In 2025, he tasked Kickl with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed. Van der Bellen has repeatedly said that he will remain vigilant to ensure the "cornerstones of democracy" are respected, including human rights, independent media, and Austria's membership of the European Union.
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He is generally associated with the Green Party
The current president of Austria is Alexander Van der Bellen, who is generally associated with the Green Party. Van der Bellen became the first Austrian president not affiliated with either of the two dominant parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party. He is a liberal and an environmentalist, and his presidency has been marked by his opposition to the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).
Van der Bellen has been critical of the FPO's failure to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its opposition to sanctions against Moscow. He has also clashed with FPO leader Herbert Kickl, refusing to assent to the appointment of Kickl's close ally, Peter Goldgruber, to the office of director general for Public Security. Van der Bellen's stance has made him a target of protests by supporters of the FPO, who view him as an obstacle to their party's political ambitions.
Despite his association with the Green Party, Van der Bellen has had to navigate a complex political landscape in Austria, where the FPO has gained significant support. In January 2025, he tasked the FPO with forming a coalition government, marking a dramatic reversal from his previous criticisms of the party. However, Van der Bellen's commitment to upholding the "cornerstones of democracy" and ensuring respect for human rights, independent media, and Austria's membership in the European Union remains unwavering.
Van der Bellen's presidency has been marked by his efforts to balance the various political forces in Austria, including the rise of the far-right, while upholding the principles and rules of the constitution. His association with the Green Party provides a perspective that is distinct from the dominant parties in Austria, offering a different set of priorities and values that shape his approach to governance.
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The Green Party is left-wing and liberal
Alexander Van der Bellen, the current President of Austria, is generally associated with the Green Party. He is the first Austrian president not to be affiliated with either of the two dominant parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party. Van der Bellen is a liberal and has been described as the "head of state". He has also been referred to as a "powerful critic" of the far-right.
Van der Bellen has a record of taking a strong stance against the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), refusing to allow its leader, Herbert Kickl, to become chancellor. The president has also been critical of the FPO's failure to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its opposition to sanctions against Moscow. In addition, Van der Bellen has emphasised the importance of respecting the "cornerstones of democracy", including human rights and independent media.
The Green Party's liberal and left-wing ideology is further demonstrated by the hundreds of protesters associated with the party, who gathered outside the presidential palace to demonstrate against the far-right. The protesters, including Jewish students and left-wing activists, expressed their opposition to the Freedom Party and right-wing extremism in Austria. They waved banners with slogans such as "We don't want to wake in a fascist country" and "We don't want to wake up in an authoritarian system like in Hungary".
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The two dominant parties are the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party
The President of Austria is Alexander Van der Bellen, who is generally associated with the Green Party. He is not affiliated with either of the two dominant parties, namely the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party.
The Social Democratic Party (SPOe) is one of the mainstream political parties in Austria. It is led by Andreas Babler. The party has been a part of the Austrian government in the past and has recently joined a coalition government with the People's Party and NEOS.
The People's Party (OeVP) is a conservative party that has also been a part of the Austrian government in the past. It is led by Christian Stocker, who is set to become the chancellor in the new coalition government. The People's Party came in second in the recent parliamentary elections, winning 28.8% of the vote.
Both parties have a history of political influence in Austria and have worked together in coalition governments previously. They are considered mainstream alternatives to the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which has been gaining support in recent years.
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The Freedom Party is far-right and anti-immigration
The Freedom Party of Austria, founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, is a far-right, anti-immigration political party. The party's leader, Herbert Kickl, has steadily built support by demonizing immigrants and spreading an anti-establishment message that harshly criticizes the European Union and support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. The Freedom Party also opposes sanctions against Russia and is seen as Russia-friendly.
The Freedom Party's rise to power follows years of growing acceptance of the far-right in Austrian politics. This shift has been facilitated by scandals and an ideological shift in the more mainstream conservative party that has led Austria's government for many years. The Freedom Party has broadened its appeal by tapping into anti-establishment sentiment and criticizing immigrants, COVID-19 restrictions, and the European Union.
In September 2024, the Freedom Party won Austria's parliamentary elections, receiving around 29% of the vote. This marked the first far-right victory in a national election in postwar Austria. The party's victory left it isolated and partly at the mercy of a powerful critic: the president, who must oversee efforts to form a viable coalition government.
Despite the Freedom Party's success in the election, other parties have been reluctant to work with them. President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the left-wing Greens, has expressed reservations about the Freedom Party due to its failure to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its opposition to sanctions against Moscow. Van der Bellen has also hinted that he might not allow the party's leader, Herbert Kickl, to become chancellor.
The far-right and conservative parties have governed together in the past, with the Freedom Party as the junior partner. However, any coalition talks between the two parties are not guaranteed to succeed, and there are concerns that a new election could further strengthen the Freedom Party.
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Frequently asked questions
The current Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, is generally associated with the Green Party. He is the first president not affiliated with either of the two dominant parties, the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party.
The Austrian president is the commander-in-chief of the Austrian Armed Forces and is the only person with the power to remove any Cabinet member, including the chancellor, from office. The president is also responsible for overseeing the formation of a viable coalition government.
Karl Nehammer was the previous Austrian chancellor. He resigned after failing to form a coalition government following the parliamentary election in September 2024, which was won by the far-right Freedom Party.
Christian Stocker is the current chancellor of Austria. He is the leader of the People's Party (OeVP) and heads the country's first three-party coalition government, which includes the Austrian Social Democrats and the centrist NEOS party.
