European allies of Austria's FPO hail election victory

30/9/2024 6:01

        Political parties on the
        European right celebrated Sunday's parliamentary election
        victory by Austria's Freedom Party (FPO) as a boost for national
        conservatives amid advances by the hard right fuelled by worries
        about immigration.
        
        Led by Herbert Kickl, who capitalised on a misfiring economy
        and concerns that Austria has taken in people faster than it can
        integrate them, the FPO won around 29% of the vote, a record
        result that may give it a platform to lead the next government.
        
        Kickl must find a partner to form a stable coalition and he
        is loathed by other party leaders, who have refused to serve
        under him and quickly began discussing the possibility of
        sounding out alternatives to an FPO-led government.
        
        But there were warm words from allies in Europe, where the
        FPO forms part of a right-wing group inside the European
        Parliament led by France's far-right National Rally (RN).
        
        Its leader Marine Le Pen expressed delight at the victory
        and said it showed those parties were advancing.
        
        "After the Italian, Dutch and French elections, this tidal
        wave which supports the defence of national interests, the
        safeguarding of identities and the resurrection of
        sovereignties, confirms the triumph of the people everywhere,"
        Le Pen wrote in a post on X.
        
        Bjoern Hoecke, one of the leaders of the far-right
        Alternative for Germany (AfD), called the FPO's win a
        "sensation" and said on X: "The FPO victory isn't just a victory
        for Austria - it extends far beyond the borders of the Alpine
        republic and is a good sign of progress for Europe."
        
        The win by the Eurosceptic FPO could sow division within the
        European Union over foreign policy areas such as support for
        Ukraine against Moscow's invasion of the country.
        
        Kickl opposes sending aid to Kyiv and critics of the RN and
        other parties in the right-wing Patriots for Europe group, the
        third-largest in the European parliament, often argue they have
        been too soft on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
        
        Earlier this year Kickl sealed an alliance with the Fidesz
        party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has
        frequently blocked or delayed major EU decisions such as
        sanctions against Russia and aid for Ukraine.
        
        Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook:
        "What a weekend!! After the Czech Republic, another victory for
        the Patriots across the border... No war, no migration and no
        gender propaganda!"
        
        Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders, whose PVV party leads the
        Dutch government, responded to the FPO victory on X by saying:
        "We are winning! Times are changing! Identity, sovereignty,
        freedom and no more illegal immigration/asylum is what tens of
        millions of Europeans long for!"
        
        Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of the
        co-ruling League party said in a statement the Austrian vote was
        "a historic day in the name of change."
        
        "To those who speak of the 'extreme right', let us remind
        them that in Vienna (as in almost all of Europe) there is only
        the desire for change by putting the values of work, family and
        security back at the centre," he added.