Herbert Kickl calls himself Austria's future "Volkskanzler" – the same term used by the Nazis for Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.
It's a targeted provocation with two goals: to get people talking and send clear signals to the party's most radical corners, says journalist Nina Horaczek, who has written a book about Kickl, to AFP.
The leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) is, like his predecessors, strongly critical of immigration. Kickl often talks about wanting to "abolish the system", and the party's election manifesto is a collection of more or less unconstitutional ideas aimed at "restructuring" Austrian democracy.
Immigrants who "persistently refuse to integrate" will have their citizenship revoked, according to the manifesto. Emergency laws can be introduced to abolish asylum rights. Austria's constitution will be changed to protect the country from "attacks" from the EU, WHO, and the IPCC. Furthermore, children will be "protected" from drag queens and "gender confusion", writes Austrian Der Standard.
Abolished Ukraine Support
Since Herbert Kickl took over the scandal-ridden party in 2021, the 55-year-old has managed to gather frustrated voters by portraying the FPÖ as a vote against the establishment. Kickl opposes sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, has spread various conspiracy theories about COVID-19, and formed a far-right alliance with Hungary's Viktor Orbán in the EU Parliament.
Not least, the party's xenophobic rhetoric attracts voters who have been hard hit by Austrian inflation.
Migration is a problem – and the money spent on all migrants. As an Austrian, you don't stand a chance, says 69-year-old Monika Skoff, who has a pension of over 1,000 euros a month, to AFP.
"An Earthquake"
The party, founded in 1955 by former Nazis, is currently polling just ahead of the conservative ruling party ÖVP.
If they win, they will need to find a coalition partner to reach a majority, but so far, no parties have said they are willing to join an FPÖ-led government. Instead, there have been hints of a possible coalition between ÖVP, the Social Democrats, and the pro-European Neos – whose party leader has called Kickl "Putin's useful idiot" – to bypass the FPÖ.
Such a coalition risks, however, strengthening Kickl and his anti-establishment rhetoric even further, analysts warn. Kickl can then play on the fact that he was denied the chancellorship despite his victory – and thus increase tensions.
It's an earthquake that's happening, says political analyst Thomas Hofer to AFP.
Mia Holmberg Karlsson/TT
Facts: Austrian Far-Right Party
TT
FPÖ stands for Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (Austrian Freedom Party) and was founded in 1955 by former Nazis.
From having a more liberal profile, the Freedom Party was taken in a more right-wing and populist direction in the 1980s by then-party leader Jörg Haider. FPÖ has participated in several different government constellations and driven a more or less xenophobic line.
FPÖ has long had close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his party United Russia. During the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the party leadership sided with Russia and opposed EU sanctions.
Herbert Kickl, born in 1968 in Villach, was elected FPÖ leader in June 2021. Since then, the party's opinion polls have risen significantly.
