Polls in Austria are showing the far-right Freedom Party in the lead, with predictions of winning more than 28% of the vote in what could be their first-ever election victory. Party leader Herbert Kickl has been advocating for a large-scale “remigration” of illegal immigrants, emphasizing an “Austria first” strategy in his politics. Kickl, a former interior minister and longtime campaign strategist, has his sights set on the Chancellor’s seat, but finding coalition partners could prove to be a challenge if his party fails to secure an outright majority. In response, incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the Austrian People’s Party has warned voters about the risks of a Victory by the Freedom Party and ruled out entering into a coalition with Kickl.
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Austria have seen the majority of political parties holding their final campaign rallies ahead of Sunday’s vote. The Social Democratic Party, led by Andreas Babler, is polling in third place with expectations to take around 20% of the vote. Meanwhile, the smaller parties NEOS, the Greens, and the BIER Party are also vying for votes. NEOS, formed a decade ago following a merger with the Liberal Forum, has outlined promises to recruit new teachers, reduce tax burdens on citizens, and increase political transparency. Party leader Beate Meinl-Resinger has expressed enthusiasm from people of all ages about the party’s offerings and is focused on creating optimism for the future in Austria.
The Austrian People’s Party, led by incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer, is polling second at around 24% and has ruled out forming a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party due to concerns over Kickl’s rhetoric. Nehammer has emphasized the risks of Kickl becoming Chancellor and has urged voters to support him as a way to prevent this outcome. The Freedom Party’s campaign rallies have centered around Kickl’s nationalist and anti-immigrant stances, which have resonated with supporters but raised concerns among other parties in the country. The final campaign rallies for all parties ahead of Sunday’s vote are expected to take place on Saturday, with each party making a final push to secure votes.
Tied almost neck and neck in the polls with NEOS are the Greens, led by Werner Kogler, who also serves as Austria’s Vice Chancellor. Kogler praised the achievements of the Green team as the junior party in the ruling coalition and emphasized the importance of looking towards the future in his party’s campaign rally. The Greens have focused on environmental issues and social justice in their platform, appealing to a wide range of voters. With the election quickly approaching, all parties are making their final appeals to voters, outlining their visions for the future of Austria and the priorities they will pursue if elected.
Overall, the upcoming parliamentary elections in Austria are shaping up to be a close and competitive race, with the far-right Freedom Party leading in the polls but facing challenges in finding coalition partners. Incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer has warned voters about the risks of a Freedom Party victory and has ruled out forming a coalition with them. The smaller parties, such as NEOS, the Greens, and the BIER Party, are also vying for votes and trying to make their mark on the political landscape. As the campaign rallies come to a close, all parties are gearing up for the final push to secure votes and potentially shape the future direction of Austria.
