Sunday's election could see Herbert Kickl's party top the polls for the first time.

Austrians vote on Sunday in a general election that could see the far-right opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ) top the polls for the first time.

Five years ago, the party crashed out of a coalition government with the conservative People’s Party because of a corruption scandal dubbed Ibiza-gate.

But now, led by Herbert Kickl, the FPÖ is within reach of a historic victory. It narrowly leads the ruling conservatives in the opinion polls, and the opposition Social Democrats are in third place.

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The FPÖ has successfully tapped into concerns about migration, rising inflation, the war in Ukraine and anger over the way the Covid pandemic was handled, and for months has been hovering around 27% in the polls, up to two points ahead of the conservative Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) or Austrian People’s Party, which is predicting a photo finish.

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      16·
      2 months ago

      Neoliberalism (what Regean spearheaded) crushes the common man and its widespread embrace has deprived people of the ability to hope for stuff like a house or the ability to afford a family. People are struggling and want change - centrists are failing to deliver that.

      One thing to observe is that in areas where true left wing governments hold sway (like Spain) they’re thriving. But yeah, disappointing centrists marauding as liberals (like Starmer) underdeliver and then get extremist right wingers elected.

    • Optional@lemmy.worldEnglish
      62·
      2 months ago

      Russian election interference. It’s so easy and cheap!

      Sounds like Australia the-one-without-kangaroos isn’t at the stage where they start talking openly about that yet though, that’s sad. Hopefully they’ll find their Maria Butina soon.

    • CosmoNova@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      2 months ago

      Post-pandemic idiocity (historically, far right politics become very popular after a pandemic, or so I’ve read) coupled with all the other issues. The filthy rich playing off the masses against each other being a big one. And of course it’s Austria we’re talking about. They’re resilient to learning from past mistakes even when it was just a couple years ago. It’s actually baffling how easily they swing from one side to another, but that’s probably partly because it’s a tiny nation.

    • BMTea@lemmy.worldEnglish
      63·
      2 months ago

      Liberal delusions from boom times are giving way to the cultural, political and economic contradictions of globalization in a world of nation-states.