The far right is on the rise in Austria

In the country's parliamentary elections in September 2024, the Freedom Party became the largest political party in parliament, ahead of Mr. Nehammer's party. According to traditional political practice in the world, the largest party or coalition in parliament takes precedence. Mr. van der Bellen did not follow this practice, and sent Mr. Nehammer to form a government on the grounds that the Freedom Party is a far-right party. Mr. Nehamer failed, forcing the Austrian president into a situation where he was forced to ask Mr. Kickl to form a government or dissolve parliament to hold new general elections.

It is not yet known whether Mr. Kickl will be able to form a new government, but the fact that he has been assigned the task of forming a new government is enough to show that the far-right, populist and nationalist factions have officially taken the throne in Austria, signaling that the far-right forces in Europe continue to grow. This also has a strong impact on the upcoming parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government.

In Austria's history, the Austrian Freedom Party has participated in government with the Austrian People's Party, but as a junior partner rather than holding the government as it does now.

The EU cannot help but be deeply concerned as more and more member states are falling under the influence of far-right, populist and nationalist forces, weakening the EU both internally and externally and causing further political turmoil across the continent.