While far-right parties are gaining ground in major European countries, the possibility that Austria, which has a dark history under Nazi Germany, will have its first far-right prime minister since World War II has increased. This is because it was founded in 1956 by Anton Reinthaler, a former member of the Nazi SS, and Herbert Kieckl (57), leader of the anti-immigration and pro-Russia Freedom Party, took the lead in forming a coalition government. If he reaches an agreement and becomes prime minister, it is expected to have significant repercussions throughout the European Union (EU).
According to the Financial Times (FT), President Alexander van der Bellen asked Kickle on the 6th to initiate negotiations to form a coalition government with the center-right People’s Party. So far, the People’s Party and the center-left Social Democratic Party have been pushing for a ‘coalition excluding the extreme right’ that excludes the Liberal Party, but negotiations finally broke down on the 4th due to differences of opinion over the leadership of the coalition.
The Liberty Party won about 29% of the vote in the general election last September. It was the first time in history that a far-right party ranked first in a general election after World War II. However, the Liberal Party failed to form a coalition with other political parties. Accordingly, starting in October of the same year, the People’s Party, ranked second, and the Social Democratic Party, ranked third, began negotiations to form a coalition government, but they also failed.
Accordingly, the ball for forming a coalition government was again given to the Liberty Party. If negotiations fail this time, another general election may have to be held, but analysts say there is a high possibility that a coalition agreement will be reached as the National Party is feeling the burden of additional elections. The possibility of Representative Kickle becoming prime minister has increased.
Representative Kikl, who has been the leader of the Liberal Party since June 2021, has repeatedly made hard-line statements, such as saying, “We will turn Austria into a Germanic fortress.” The overall EU support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia are also negative. If he comes to power, significant changes are expected in immigration and Ukraine support policies not only in Austria but across the EU.
In Germany, where general elections will be held on the 23rd of next month, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party with a similar color to the Liberty Party, is ranked second in approval ratings after the center-right Christian Democratic Party and Christian Socialist Party coalition. AfD is also expected to exert significant influence in forming a coalition after the general election. The French far-right party National Rally (RN) also surprisingly took first place in the first round of the general election in June last year.
Reporter Yunjin Kim [email protected]
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