By 
05-10-2024
Innocenti Chiara
Human Rights and Europe Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence
(VIENNA), October 1st – On September 29th, 2024, parliamentary elections in Austria were held, resulting in significant gains for Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). These elections, convened every five years, aim to renew the members in the lower chamber of the Austrian Parliament, the Nationalrat (The National Council), to directly represent the will of the people.
For the first time in several years, FPÖ garnered 28.9 percent of the ballots, surpassing the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) by almost three points and securing 57 seats in the 183-seat parliament. Although this result falls short of a majority, it necessitates the immediate creation of a coalition. However, the current political landscape is far from united, displaying both objection and turmoil. Incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP openly rejected any possibility of collaborating with the newly elected members, stating that it is “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories.”. These sentiments render any future political advancements in Parliament increasingly unattainable and ineffective.
The prevailing issues in these elections reflect the heated debates stifled within the European Union, which can be summarised as the substantial migration crisis, a fragile economy, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In essence, the primary agenda put forth by FPÖ’s leader Herbert Kickl advocates for the urgent construction of a “Fortress Austria” to restore peace, security, and prosperity, emphasising a nationalistic approach to migration policies. This marks a step toward the illiberal democracy historically championed by Viktor Orban in Hungary, an ideology that has faced widespread criticism at the European level since its inception. The rise of populism in Austria signifies a disruptive shift in the broader political trends across Europe, with Italy, Germany, and France suddenly reevaluating their positions on key areas of the EU Agenda. Marine Le Pen from the Rassemblement National (RN), Bjoern Hoecke from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), and Matteo Salvini from Brothers of Italy’s government hailed the outcome of the Austrian elections as a historic event poised to reshape EU policies.
While these victorious political leaders celebrated this milestone, significant political opposition emerged evidently. Austrians took to the streets, marching towards Parliament with placards reading “Nazis, get out of parliament,” and “Don’t let Nazis govern, and never [let them] march,” openly denouncing their rejection of the election results. These protests evoke a troubling resemblance between the attitude of the FPÖ’s rhetoric and that of the Nationalist Socialist Party led by Hitler. Some protesters draw parallels to the historically Nazi roots of the party, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic values within their platform. The implications for human rights remain to be seen, but early indicators suggest a troubling trajectory. The concept of remigration associated with this electoral victory promises a harsh crackdown on legal migration, which could legitimise pushbacks at the border and complicate the process of obtaining citizenship.
Sources and further reading:
Graham, D., (2024, September 29). Austria’s far-right election victory delights Europe’s right-wing parties. The Reuters. Retrieved on October 3, 2024, from:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/european-right-wing-parties-revel-election-victory-austrias-far-right-2024-09-29/.
Kirby, P., (2024, October 1). Far right in Austria ‘opens new era’ with election victory. The BBC. Retrieved on October 3, 2024, from:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rdygy5888o.
Moens, B., Vinocur, N., (2024, October 1). The far right won Austria’s election. Brussels doesn’t care. The Politico. Retrieved on October 2, 2024, from: https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-europe-populism-far-right-austria-election-herbert-kickl-freedom-party-fpo/.
(2024, September 30). Salvini esulta per la vittoria di Fpo in Austria. Ma Tajani: “Respingere i rigurgiti neonazisti”. Il Foglio. Retrieved on October 3, 2024, from:
https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2024/09/30/news/salvini-esulta-per-la-vittoria-di-fpo-in-austria-ma-tajani-respingere-i-rigurgiti-neonazisti–6996074/.
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