Austria FPÖ warns of voter fraud - right-wing populists see mission
The right-wing FPÖ in Austria is warning of voter fraud following its triumphant victory in the National Council elections. The other parties, such as the ÖVP and the SPÖ, are behaving as if the voters had made a mistake, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl told party committee meetings.
02.10.2024, 16:24
SDA
However, the voters' message was clear - "it is about the mandate to make a change for the better in this country", said Kickl, who saw a government mandate for the right-wing populists. So far, all other parties have rejected cooperation with the FPÖ or at least with Kickl personally.
In the coming days, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen wants to hold bilateral talks with all party leaders to explore the possibilities of forming a governing coalition. According to Kickl, he will meet with the head of state on Friday.
He is looking forward to these talks "very, very eagerly", said the 55-year-old. The FPÖ received around 29% of the vote on Sunday, the ÖVP around 26% and the SPÖ 21%. This made the right-wing populists the strongest force in the Alpine republic for the first time.
The relationship between Van der Bellen, former leader of the Greens, and Kickl is considered tense. After the Ibiza affair, the Federal President dismissed Kickl as Interior Minister of the then ÖVP-FPÖ government.
In addition, Van der Bellen has repeatedly expressed his reservations about the right-wing FPÖ, at least indirectly. The FPÖ leader, in turn, described the 80-year-old head of state as a "mummy" and "senile" during an Ash Wednesday speech in 2023.
