本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Austrian far-right posts strongest result since 1999
Projections show nationalist Freedom Party has taken bigger share than expected
by Ralph Atkins in Vienna
Austria’s far-right nationalist Freedom party has scored its best result in a national election for two decades and is likely to join the country’s next government, in a significant boost for Europe’s nationalist and anti-establishment movements.
Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of the mainstream conservative People’s party, looked set to become Austrian chancellor — and the EU’s youngest leader — after topping Sunday’s poll with 31.6 per cent of votes, according to projections based on most votes counted. He said the vote was a “clear contract to change the country”.
But the projections showed 26 per cent of the vote went to the Freedom party, which has earned international notoriety for its hardline stance on immigration and airbrushing of Austria’s Nazi past. If confirmed, that would be its strongest performance since the 26.9 per cent it won in 1999 when the party was led by the charismatic Jörg Haider.
Its strong showing means the Freedom party could demand a high price to join a coalition led by Mr Kurz. That would almost certainly result in a more aggressive position from Vienna on many EU topics, including immigration, and the Freedom party occupying top government posts such as the foreign and interior ministries. Heinz Christian Strache, Freedom party’s leader, hailed his party’s “great success” but refrained from immediate comment on any possible coalition.
“It is certainly a very strong message for Europe,” said Thomas Hofer, political analyst in Vienna. The Freedom party “had a fabulous campaign”.
Mr Kurz could, however, seek another coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats, which according to exit polls came second with 26.8 per cent of the vote. But this match would continue the system of “grand coalition” governments between Austria’s two mainstream parties that disenchanted voters and that Mr Kurz had promised to overhaul.
Christian Kern, Social Democratic leader, said Austria had seen a “massive slide to the right,” but hinted he hoped his party would remain in power, saying it took its responsibilities seriously.
In another variation, the Freedom party could try to form a coalition with the Social Democrats.
The Social Democrats’ share of the vote was better than many in the party had feared but was virtually identical to its 2013 result, which was its worst in the postwar era.
The Freedom party was in government in Austria from 2000 to 2005 — but its disastrous performance then resulted in its support among voters plummeting.
Support surged, however, after Europe’s migration crisis, which erupted two years ago. During the election campaign Mr Strache warned of Austria’s “Islamification”.
Austria is among the EU’s economically strongest members, strategically located between western and eastern Europe, but in recent years disagreement within its “grand coalition” have hampered economic reforms. Mr Kurz triggered the collapse of the current government in May and sought to present himself as a young reformist in the style of French president Emmanuel Macron.
Sunday’s result showed Mr Kurz had less success than expected in blunting the challenge from the Freedom party. He had adopted a similarly tough line on stopping illegal immigration, limiting foreigners’ access to Austria’s generous welfare system and pushing for the stronger defence of the EU’s external borders.
In the final days of the campaign, top Freedom party leaders had “hammered home that Mr Kurz is not for real”, said Mr Hofer.
Sunday’s result heralds the start of complex coalition negotiations over the composition of the next Austrian government, which could last months.
The Freedom party’s strong result on Sunday followed last December’s presidential elections when its candidate came close to becoming head of state. Instead the post went to Alexander Van der Bellen, a Green politician, who promised Austrian voters he would seek to stop a Freedom party candidate ever becoming chancellor.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Projections show nationalist Freedom Party has taken bigger share than expected
by Ralph Atkins in Vienna
Austria’s far-right nationalist Freedom party has scored its best result in a national election for two decades and is likely to join the country’s next government, in a significant boost for Europe’s nationalist and anti-establishment movements.
Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of the mainstream conservative People’s party, looked set to become Austrian chancellor — and the EU’s youngest leader — after topping Sunday’s poll with 31.6 per cent of votes, according to projections based on most votes counted. He said the vote was a “clear contract to change the country”.
But the projections showed 26 per cent of the vote went to the Freedom party, which has earned international notoriety for its hardline stance on immigration and airbrushing of Austria’s Nazi past. If confirmed, that would be its strongest performance since the 26.9 per cent it won in 1999 when the party was led by the charismatic Jörg Haider.
Its strong showing means the Freedom party could demand a high price to join a coalition led by Mr Kurz. That would almost certainly result in a more aggressive position from Vienna on many EU topics, including immigration, and the Freedom party occupying top government posts such as the foreign and interior ministries. Heinz Christian Strache, Freedom party’s leader, hailed his party’s “great success” but refrained from immediate comment on any possible coalition.
“It is certainly a very strong message for Europe,” said Thomas Hofer, political analyst in Vienna. The Freedom party “had a fabulous campaign”.
Mr Kurz could, however, seek another coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats, which according to exit polls came second with 26.8 per cent of the vote. But this match would continue the system of “grand coalition” governments between Austria’s two mainstream parties that disenchanted voters and that Mr Kurz had promised to overhaul.
Christian Kern, Social Democratic leader, said Austria had seen a “massive slide to the right,” but hinted he hoped his party would remain in power, saying it took its responsibilities seriously.
In another variation, the Freedom party could try to form a coalition with the Social Democrats.
The Social Democrats’ share of the vote was better than many in the party had feared but was virtually identical to its 2013 result, which was its worst in the postwar era.
The Freedom party was in government in Austria from 2000 to 2005 — but its disastrous performance then resulted in its support among voters plummeting.
Support surged, however, after Europe’s migration crisis, which erupted two years ago. During the election campaign Mr Strache warned of Austria’s “Islamification”.
Austria is among the EU’s economically strongest members, strategically located between western and eastern Europe, but in recent years disagreement within its “grand coalition” have hampered economic reforms. Mr Kurz triggered the collapse of the current government in May and sought to present himself as a young reformist in the style of French president Emmanuel Macron.
Sunday’s result showed Mr Kurz had less success than expected in blunting the challenge from the Freedom party. He had adopted a similarly tough line on stopping illegal immigration, limiting foreigners’ access to Austria’s generous welfare system and pushing for the stronger defence of the EU’s external borders.
In the final days of the campaign, top Freedom party leaders had “hammered home that Mr Kurz is not for real”, said Mr Hofer.
Sunday’s result heralds the start of complex coalition negotiations over the composition of the next Austrian government, which could last months.
The Freedom party’s strong result on Sunday followed last December’s presidential elections when its candidate came close to becoming head of state. Instead the post went to Alexander Van der Bellen, a Green politician, who promised Austrian voters he would seek to stop a Freedom party candidate ever becoming chancellor.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net