Far-Right Leader Kickl Tasked to Form Austrian Government

Austria‘s President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), with forming a government after coalition talks excluding the party collapsed.

The FPOe, which topped the polls in September with nearly 29% of the vote, has not previously led coalition talks at the national level. The president described the decision as “not easy,” citing a “new situation” within the conservative People’s Party (OeVP), which is now open to talks with the FPOe.

This marks a historic moment for Austria, with analysts predicting a likely coalition between the far right and conservatives. Protesters gathered outside Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, denouncing the development with chants of “Nazis out.”

Kickl’s leadership has sparked controversy due to his rhetoric, including terms linked to the party’s Nazi-era origins, and tensions remain high as coalition discussions begin.