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Following failed coalition negotiations in #Austria, the right-wing populist and Eurosceptic FPÖ has been given the mandate to govern. What does this mean for Austria in the EU?
Paul Schmidt from Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik @oegfe assesses for the #WahlmonitorIEP:
"Will Austria backslide on EU-integration? Over the last 30 years of membership Austria has consistently been a reliable partner in the EU. But a pro-European approach is not carved in stone. If Herbert Kickl, the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ, Patriots for Europe), who has won the parliamentary elections in September 2024, succeeds to form government with the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP, European People’s Party), he would be the first Chancellor explicitly opposing the EU.

The FPÖ seeks to reverse EU-integration and reclaim EU-competences, advocates the right to veto European decisions and to stop financial contributions, if the EU ‘does not fulfil its tasks’. It accuses the EU of warmongering, sees no reason to support Ukraine nor to sanction Russia and wants to end the Green Deal, the asylum and migration pact, the EU peace facility or a capital market union. It also questions the role of the European Court of Justice and calls for the Austrian Constitution to become a stronghold ‘against the excessive influence’ of the EU.

While the ÖVP seeks a clear FPÖ-commitment to EU-membership, this might not be enough to avoid a political U-turn in EU-affairs. An FPÖ led government could join ranks with the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán – a role model – or the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico trying to divide and obstruct. However, even a FPÖ Chancellor cannot detach the country from reality. The costs of isolating Austria- a small and open economy, highly benefiting from EU membership – would be high."

Supported by the Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany and the European Commission.

#election #FPÖ #Kickl #chancellor #EU #Europe #politics #rightwing #farright #populism #EUIntegration #iepberlin