Austria's Far-Right Victory: What’s Next?

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPO), a far-right, Eurosceptic, and Russia-friendly party, won the recent election. Despite its victory, other parties are refusing to form a coalition with it. FPO leader Herbert Kickl opposes aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, believing they harm Austria more.

The election victory of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) is regarded as an internal matter for Austrian voters, the Kremlin stated on Monday. Moscow had no further comments on the matter.

The Freedom Party, known for its Eurosceptic and Russia-friendly stance, emerged as the largest party in Sunday's election. However, other political groups have declined to collaborate with it and will seek to form a coalition without the FPO.

FPO leader Herbert Kickl advocates for ending aid to Ukraine and lifting sanctions against Russia, arguing that such measures are more damaging to Austria than to Moscow. Earlier this year, Kickl forged an alliance with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the lone EU leader who has maintained amicable relations with Putin since the onset of the war. The FPO’s triumph marks another milestone in the rise of Europe's hard right.