- Austria's general election set for September 29.
- Far-right Freedom Party (FPO) leads polls with 30% support.
- FPO wins European Parliament election for the first time.
- Coalition formation may be challenging due to FPO leader.
Austria’s ruling coalition, comprising conservatives and Greens, has confirmed that the next general election will take place on September 29, as announced by Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Tuesday. This decision delays a potential showdown with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) for as long as possible, as polls indicate the FPO leads its rivals.
The FPO has capitalized on the current government’s unpopularity, which has been exacerbated by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation rates exceeding the euro zone average. On Sunday, the FPO won the European Parliament election for the first time, securing a narrow margin of less than one percentage point over Nehammer’s People’s Party.
Chancellor Nehammer announced the election date on social media platform X, stating that it would be formalized at the next cabinet meeting. The conservatives and Greens have been forced to work together despite their differences on key issues like immigration, as they would likely lose seats in a snap election.
Speculation about a snap election has faded in recent months, with a September election becoming increasingly likely. Chancellor Nehammer acknowledged voter dissatisfaction on election night, promising to understand the message.
Polls indicate the FPO leads with around 30% support, followed by the OVP and Social Democrats competing for second place with around 20% each. Forming a coalition may prove challenging, as all five parliamentary parties have ruled out collaborating with FPO leader Herbert Kickl.
