Austria's Right-Wing Shift: A Complex Political Journey

Austria's far-right party, the Freedom Party (FPÖ), has repeatedly been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right and has effectively normalised over the years. The FPÖ has surged in the polls ahead of this year's parliamentary elections, and many speculated that any government coalition would include at least one of the two far-right parties.

Weak economy

The weak economy of Austria has been a significant factor in the country's rightward shift in recent years. The country's immediate prospects are bleak, and the government is unpopular. This has led to a surging of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in the polls ahead of this year's parliamentary elections.

The weak economy has been a key issue for the FPÖ, which has repeatedly been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right. The party has effectively normalised over the years, and its ideas and policy positions have been 'shamelessly normalised'. This has led to a weak economy and a bleak outlook for the country.

The weak economy has also led to a weak opposition, with the opposition running out of time to find its feet. This has allowed the FPÖ to surging in the polls and gain support from the electorate.

The weak economy has also led to a weak government, with the government being unpopular and the country's immediate prospects being bleak. This has led to a weak economy and a bleak outlook for the country.

The weak economy has also led to a weak opposition, with the opposition running out of time to find its feet. This has allowed the FPÖ to surging in the polls and gain support from the electorate.

The weak economy has also led to a weak government, with the government being unpopular and the country's immediate prospects being bleak. This has led to a weak economy and a bleak outlook for the country.

Unpopular government

The government of Austria is unpopular and the opposition is running out of time to find its feet. The economy is weak and the country’s immediate prospects are bleak. Austria is thus inching its way toward a far-right victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The Freedom Party and the recently deceased Jörg Haider's new party Alliance for the Future of Austria, both right-wing parties, were strengthened in the September 2008 elections. Due to the surge of the right at the last elections, many speculated that any government coalition would include at least one of the two far-right parties. This idea was put to rest when both the Social Democrats and the People's Party stated that neither of them would work with the Freedom Party or the Alliance for the Future of Austria.

As Jan-Werner Müller writes in his latest book, Democracy Rules, there is no western democracy where a right-wing, authoritarian-populist party has come to power without the help of established conservative elites. This is particularly true of Austria, where the ÖVP repeatedly elevated the FPÖ to governing positions while taking over some of its ideas, particularly on ‘immigration. Other parties did pursue a policy of exclusion, trying to minimise the appeal of the FPÖ, but with limited success—far-right ideas and policy positions having been ‘shamelessly normalised’, as Ruth Wodak puts it, especially under Kurz. Now any attempt by the ÖVP to demonise the far right would seem rather dishonest.

In 2017, it was Kurz’s coup that saw him take over the ÖVP and blow up its coalition with the SPÖ. The ÖVP agreed to go into coalition with FPÖ — as it did in 2000 and 2017 — then the party will return to power once more. In Austria’s previous two elections, it was a single event that radically altered the dynamics of each race.

Facing the threat from right-wing populism at June’s Euro-elections, Austria offers lessons for progressives. Although the mainstreaming of the far right is often presented as European democracies’ main contemporary challenge, in Austria this is neither new nor does it any longer surprise.

Far-right normalisation

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has been repeatedly included in governing coalitions with the centre-right and has been effectively normalised over the years. The mainstreaming of the far right is often presented as European democracies' main contemporary challenge, and in Austria, this is neither new nor does it any longer surprise.

The FPÖ has been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right, despite the country's nationalist-socialist past and its role in the Third Reich. Other parties did pursue a policy of exclusion, trying to minimise the appeal of the FPÖ, but with limited success. Far-right ideas and policy positions have been 'shamelessly normalised', especially under Kurz. Now any attempt by the ÖVP to demonise the far right would seem rather dishonest.

The FPÖ is surging in the polls ahead of this year's parliamentary elections. The government is unpopular, and the economy is weak, and the country’s immediate prospects are bleak. Austria is thus inching its way toward a far-right victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The FPÖ has been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right, despite the country's nationalist-socialist past and its role in the Third Reich. Other parties did pursue a policy of exclusion, trying to minimise the appeal of the FPÖ, but with limited success. Far-right ideas and policy positions have been 'shamelessly normalised', especially under Kurz. Now any attempt by the ÖVP to demonise the far right would seem rather dishonest.

The FPÖ is surging in the polls ahead of this year's parliamentary elections. The government is unpopular, and the economy is weak, and the country’s immediate prospects are bleak. Austria is thus inching its way toward a far-right victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Right-wing populism

Austria has been facing a threat from right-wing populism at June’s Euro-elections. The mainstreaming of the far right is often presented as European democracies’ main contemporary challenge. In Austria, this is neither new nor does it any longer surprise. Despite the country’s nationalist-socialist past and its role in the Third Reich, which led most Austrian parties at the outset to place a cordon sanitaire against the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), the far-right party has nonetheless repeatedly been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right and effectively normalised over the years. And ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections, the FPÖ is surging in the polls.

The Freedom Party and the recently deceased Jörg Haider's new party Alliance for the Future of Austria, both right-wing parties, were strengthened. Due to the surge of the right at the last elections, many speculated that any government coalition would include at least one of the two far-right parties. This idea was put to rest when both the Social Democrats and the People's Party stated that neither of them would work with the Freedom Party or the Alliance for the Future of Austria.

As Jan-Werner Müller writes in his latest book, Democracy Rules, there is no western democracy where a right-wing, authoritarian-populist party has come to power without the help of established conservative elites. This is particularly true of Austria, where the ÖVP repeatedly elevated the FPÖ to governing positions while taking over some of its ideas, particularly on ‘immigration’. Other parties did pursue a policy of exclusion, trying to minimise the appeal of the FPÖ, but with limited success—far-right ideas and policy positions having been ‘shamelessly normalised’, as Ruth Wodak puts it, especially under Kurz. Now any attempt by the ÖVP to demonise the far right would seem rather dishonest.

The government is unpopular, and the opposition is running out of time to find its feet. The economy is weak, and the country’s immediate prospects are bleak. Austria is thus inching its way toward a far-right victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. And if the ÖVP agrees to go into coalition with FPÖ — as it did in 2000 and 2017 — then the party will return to power once more. In Austria’s previous two elections, it was a single event that radically altered the dynamics of each race. In 2017, it was Kurz’s coup that saw him take over the ÖVP and blow up its coalition with the SPÖ.

Immigration policies

Austria's immigration policies have been influenced by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), a right-wing populist party. The FPÖ has repeatedly been included in governing coalitions with the centre-right and has normalised far-right ideas and policy positions over the years. The FPÖ's influence on immigration policies is particularly notable, as the party has pursued a policy of exclusion and has sought to minimise the appeal of other parties by taking over some of their ideas, including on immigration.

The FPÖ's policies have been criticised for being authoritarian-populist and have been accused of being dishonest. The party's focus on immigration policies has been seen as a way to minimise the appeal of other parties and to normalise far-right ideas and policy positions.

The FPÖ's influence on immigration policies has been highlighted as a warning for other European democracies facing right-wing populism. The party's repeated inclusion in governing coalitions and its normalisation of far-right ideas and policy positions have been seen as a threat to the country's nationalist-socialist past and its role in the Third Reich.

The FPÖ's policies have been criticised for being exclusionary and for minimising the appeal of other parties by taking over some of their ideas, including on immigration. The party's focus on immigration policies has been seen as a way to normalise far-right ideas and policy positions and to minimise the appeal of other parties.

The FPÖ's influence on immigration policies has been highlighted as a warning for other European democracies facing right-wing populism. The party's repeated inclusion in governing coalitions and its normalisation of far-right ideas and policy positions have been seen as a threat to the country's nationalist-socialist past and its role in the Third Reich.

Frequently asked questions