Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl invited to form government

President asks FPO chief to lead coalition talks after failed attempts by rivals to keep him out of power

Herbert Kickl led the Freedom Party of Austria to victory the 2024 general election. Getty Images

Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl has been invited to form a government in a historic step for the country, after moderate parties failed to agree on a deal to keep him out of power.

Mr Kickl, who leads the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), has been asked to enter coalition talks with the centre-right Austrian People's Party (OVP) to end a three-month impasse. The FPO received the most votes at a general election in October, the first time a far-right party has won in polls in Austria since the Second World War.

Centre-right chancellor Karl Nehammer sought to keep Mr Kickl out of power by forming a coalition with Austria's social democrats and liberals. But talks broke down over the New Year and Mr Nehammer announced his resignation at the weekend.

His successor as centre-right leader, Christian Stocker, indicated he was willing to work under a far-right government, in what Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen called a "new situation". Mr van der Bellen added that he "did not take this step lightly", after asking Mr Kickl to enter coalition talks.

Austria's government "must be robust" and have a reliable majority in parliament, Mr van der Bellen said. Anti-far right protesters gathered outside the presidential palace as he held talks with Mr Kickl, booing and chanting "Nazis out".

The President spoke of a difficult economic and financial environment in which a new government may have to take unpopular measures. The centrist parties could not agree on how to shrink Austria's budget deficit, which is forecast to exceed the EU's limit of three per cent of economic output in 2024 and 2025.

Talks between the conservatives and hard right are not guaranteed to succeed but there are no realistic alternatives left in the new parliament. The other option would be a snap election which polls suggest might strengthen the Freedom Party further.

Unlike the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the FPO in Austria has been in government as a junior partner before, including between 2017 and 2019 when Mr Kickl served as interior minister. That coalition with the OVP ended amid a Russian corruption scandal exposed by footage filmed secretly in Ibiza.

Mr Kickl campaigned during the election against "remigration" and called for a ban on political Islam. The Russia-friendly party, which fiercely opposed Covid-19 lockdowns, also said Austria had sacrificed its neutrality and independence to the EU and World Health Organisation.

Critics have compared the FPO's rhetoric to the Nazi era. Mr van der Bellen has repeatedly said he will remain vigilant to ensure "cornerstones of democracy" including human rights, independent media and Austria's membership of the European Union are respected.