VIENNA – April 6, 2025 – Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has officially granted the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) a mandate to form the next government. The announcement came following a meeting with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, marking a historic moment as the party, which secured nearly 29% of the vote in the September parliamentary elections, now leads the government-forming process for the first time.
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The move follows failed coalition negotiations involving the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and the liberal NEOS. With coalition efforts stalling, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of ÖVP, resigned on Saturday, triggering a major political shift.
Initially isolated by mainstream parties due to its controversial stance on migration and foreign policy, the FPÖ now appears closer than ever to returning to power—this time possibly leading the government, unlike previous coalitions in 2000 and 2017–2019, which were led by ÖVP.
While both FPÖ and ÖVP align on issues like migration and tax reform, significant differences remain—particularly in foreign and security policy. The FPÖ has adopted a Eurosceptic and pro-Russia orientation, in contrast to the pro-European stance of the ÖVP.
Any future coalition will depend on the parties agreeing to a governing agenda, which may prove challenging given their divergent global outlooks. Nevertheless, President Van der Bellen emphasized the importance of democratic dialogue and institutional stability in these turbulent political times.
Austria’s political future now hinges on whether the far-right party can secure a viable coalition—and how Europe responds if it does.