In a historic move, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen officially tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, with forming the country’s new government on Monday, January 6. This decision followed the failure of the conservative People’s Party to establish a coalition cabinet.
Although Austria’s far-right Freedom Party has previously participated in coalition governments, this marks the first time it has been formally tasked with leading the government formation.
Failure of the People’s Party to Form a Government
In the national elections held in September, the People’s Party secured around 29% of the vote, emerging as the leading party. However, months of efforts to forge a coalition with other parties, including the Social Democrats and the Liberals, ended in deadlock.
After a one-hour meeting with Herbert Kickl, President Van der Bellen announced, “Mr. Kickl believes he can find a solution to this impasse and has accepted this responsibility. I have asked him to begin negotiations with the People’s Party to form a government.”
Reactions and Concerns
While some experts consider a coalition between the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Freedom Party plausible, Herbert Kickl’s unpredictable nature casts doubt on the negotiations’ success.
Simultaneously, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Vienna, chanting slogans like “Nazis out” and “United Against the Far-Right.”
Despite previous concerns about Kickl’s positions, the Austrian president stated after the People’s Party’s failure to form a government, “It seems the voices within the People’s Party opposing cooperation with the far-right have grown much quieter.”
Controversial Leader and Freedom Party’s History
Herbert Kickl became leader of the Freedom Party in 2020 after it had been severely weakened by financial and ethical scandals. Leveraging public discontent over issues such as immigration, the COVID-19 crisis, and the war in Ukraine, Kickl successfully revived the party.
The Freedom Party, founded in the 1950s by former Nazis, has a controversial legacy. Kickl has often used rhetoric reminiscent of Nazi terminology. For instance, he has referred to himself as the “Chancellor of the People,” a phrase Adolf Hitler used to describe his role as leader of Nazi Germany.
Leadership Changes in the People’s Party
Following the failed coalition talks, Karl Nehammer, leader of the People’s Party and Austria’s chancellor, announced his resignation to facilitate the transition to a new government.
Christian Stocker, the interim leader of the People’s Party, stated that they would be open to coalition negotiations with the Freedom Party if invited.
International Reactions
The decision to entrust the far-right Freedom Party with forming the government has sparked widespread reactions across Europe. Jewish advocacy organizations described the move as “a step toward historical amnesia” and raised concerns about its implications for combating anti-Semitism in Europe.
