A far-right party is looking for a historic election win in Austria

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl, is gaining support ahead of the upcoming national election. The party is tapping into voter concerns about immigration, inflation, Ukraine, and other issues. Recent polls show a close race between the Freedom Party, Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservative Austrian People’s Party, and the center-left Social Democrats. Kickl’s party has seen a resurgence since the 2019 election, following a scandal that led to a slump in support. The Freedom Party’s platform includes strict border controls, ending sanctions against Russia, and a tough stance on migration. Kickl’s aggressive rhetoric has moved the party further to the right. Despite Kickl’s leadership, a coalition government with the Freedom Party is uncertain. Nehammer’s People’s Party, which has taken a tough stance on immigration, has seen a decline in support amid various crises. The recent flooding caused by Storm Boris has helped Nehammer regain some support by presenting himself as a crisis manager. The possibility of a coalition government between the People’s Party and the Freedom Party remains uncertain.