FPÖ chief Herbert Kickl, tasked with forming a coalition authorities, opposes sanctions in opposition to Russia, helps the remigration of foreigners and rejects the European Green Deal.
Herbert Kickl’s attainable accession to the Austrian chancellorship may have implications for the EU at a time when Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and the Draghi report on European competitiveness invite the 27 to play collectively.
Let’s return to the place to begin. Initially excluded from the negotiations for the formation of a coalition authorities, the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) is on the gates of the Chancellery.
In a U-turn, President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the far-right FPÖ led by Herbert Kickl with forming a authorities, following failed negotiations between conservatives, liberals and social democrats.
War in Ukraine and migration restriction
The FPÖ vehemently opposes sanctions in opposition to Russia and arms shipments to Ukraine within the title of Austrian neutrality. In the title of this constitutional precept, adopted in 1955, Austria is, for instance, not a member of NATO.
“They would really like the conflict to finish as quickly as attainable, no matter which means for Ukraine,” says Stefan Lehne, a researcher on the Carnegie Europe suppose tank.
Refusing immigration is one other of the FPÖ’s flagship tasks. Herbert Kickl helps the closure of borders, the re-immigration of foreigners and opposition to the best to asylum.
“He known as for the formation of an Austrian fortress primarily to guard us from the inflow of migrants,” Lehne tells Euronews.
The FPÖ rejected the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in 2024, which goals to step up the combat in opposition to unlawful immigration and guarantee larger solidarity between member states within the occasion of mass arrivals of migrants.
“They primarily need to renationalize migration coverage,” says Lehne.
Less Europe and its guidelines
Against the European Green Pact, Herbert Kickl is in favor of decreasing environmental requirements in Europe.
A sovereignist, the FPÖ chief preaches the return of some powers to the states with out calling for a complete exit from the EU.
“They need an intergovernmental Europe with out sturdy supranational establishments,” explains Lehne.
For the primary time since World War II, the Alpine nation of 9 million folks may very well be led by a far-right chancellor.
The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) got here first in September’s federal elections with greater than 28% of the vote, beating the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP, 26%). The Social Democrats (SPÖ) obtained 21% of the vote, adopted by the Liberals (9%) and the Greens (8%).
The sanitary cordon didn’t final lengthy. Attempts to dam its path failed.
ANNOUNCEMENTForced to kind a coalition authorities, in all probability with the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the FPÖ could must put a bit water within the wine.
