Austria wore out the cordon sanitaire long ago. For much of the postwar era, the Freedom party was excluded by a series of grand coalitions (barring a single early-1980s coalition with the Social Democrats),

Austria's centrist parties may come to their senses and try a second round of coalition talks, or form a minority government. And even if Kickl does prevail, that doesn't mean he'll succeed. He'll soon realise governing is far harder than campaigning.

New Year's Eve event of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPOE) near Vienna with the participation of its chairman Herbert Kickl. Camera: MAX SLOVENCIK. FOOTAGE OF THE NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY (CDU) NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA.

Talks to form a coalition government led by Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) will begin on Friday, the party said on Thursday, as thousands protested in Vienna against the prospect of the country's first FPO-led government.

Elon Musk may steal headlines with his zeal for Germany’s AfD party, but sentiments are shifting well beyond Berlin.

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won September's parliamentary election with 29% of the vote, is due to start coalition talks with the conservative People's Party (OVP) this week aimed at creating the country's first FPO-led government.

The Freedom Party and its leader, Herbert Kickl, have steadily built support by demonizing immigrants, while entering Austria’s political mainstream.

Even so, according to polls, the FPÖ will do still better if snap elections are held. Kronen Zeitung, Austria’s largest-circulation tabloid, published a poll on January 5th that put the FPÖ at 37% of the vote, which would give them around 40% of the seats in parliament. That should focus the minds of the ÖVP ’s negotiators. ■

Austria could soon have its first government led by the far right since World War II. President Alexander Van der Bellen has turned to the far-right Freedom Party and its provocative leader Herbert Ki

The German man has been identified after his bones, including part of a leg, were discovered in western Austria.

The leader of the anti-immigrant Freedom Party of Austria, founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, was expected to be asked to enter into talks to form a new government.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. The leader of Austria’s Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, addresses a news conference, in Vienna, Austria ...