Austrian processing mandate from far right party allows for new form of government

The Austrian far-right party leader Herbert Kickl received a mandate on Monday asking whether he could form a new government. If it succeeds, it will be the first time the far-right parties establish a government in Austria since World War II. The Freedom Party won 28.8% of the votes from Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party during the last parliamentary elections of September. Following the failure to create a union without the Freedom Party, Nehammer resigns Saturday.

After his meeting with Kickl, the Federal President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, said he asked Kickl to have talks with the People’s Party in an attempt to unite this new government. According to AP NEWS, Van der Bellen said, “I did not take this step lightly,” and assured the people the country’s constitution and natural rights are protected. 

The Freedom Party, although part of previous unions, at other times was usually a junior partner. Kickl’s program, Fortress Austria, calls for keeping tighter control on the border as well as for the “remigration of uninvited foreigners.” On top of that, he opposes sanctions against Russia and has denounced the European Union. 

Van der Bellen warned that the new government would be facing many problems with a bad economy and rising unemployment. Outside, protesters were expressing fears about the rise of dictatorship, as one said, “We want to maintain democracy in Austria.”