Summary of the day
Austria’s main parties are preparing to begin tense wrangling to form a government amid warnings about the country’s democracy.
On Sunday, the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ) scored its strongest result since its founding with just over 29% of the vote.
The first place finish by the FPÖ marks another significant step in the radical right’s onward march across Europe.
But the FPÖ will face an uphill battle to form a government as it failed to secure an absolute majority.
The centre-right ÖVP would be a potential partner but has called a government led by polarising FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl a dealbreaker.
Far-right figures across the continent celebrated the results.
Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders said “the Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, France, Spain, Czech Republic and today Austria! We are winning! Times are changing!”
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán congratulated Kickl, describing the election results as a “historic victory.”
Valérie Hayer, leader of the liberal Renew Europe group, said that “our democracies deserve to be constantly reminded of the unprecedented danger posed by the extreme right.”
Valérie Hayer, leader of the liberal Renew Europe group, has said that “24 years ago, everyone was appalled. Today, some might consider it commonplace for a party that was led by a former SS to win elections. We don’t.”
“This can never be the right choice. Our democracies deserve to be constantly reminded of the unprecedented danger posed by the extreme right,” she added.
24 years ago, everyone was appalled. Today, some might consider it commonplace for a party that was led by a former SS to win elections. We don’t. This can never be the right choice.
— Valérie Hayer (@ValerieHayer) September 30, 2024
Our democracies deserve to be constantly reminded of the unprecedented danger posed by the…
