Extreme right wins elections in Austria for the first time, according to initial results

The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won general elections in Austria for the first time Sunday, initial results show.

The initial results have given Herbert Kickl 29.1 per cent of the vote to the ruling conservative party, the Austrian People's Party (OVP), which is said to have received 26.2 per cent of the vote.

However, The FPO has failed to win the majority in Parliament to form Austria's new government itself.

The Freedom Party has been in the coalition government before, but the conservative party has said it would refuse to enter a government coalition led by Kickl.

Kickl's main rival, outgoing Chancellor Carl Nehammer of OVP, has said that “is impossible to form Government with someone who loves conspiracy theories”.

About 6.3 million Austrians were eligible to vote in a contest dominated by issues such as immigration and asylum, as well as inflation and war in Ukraine.

The polling station opened at 7:00 and closed at 5:00.

If confirmed, Kickle's victory could be useless, as 55-year-old is a polarizing figure under which party leaders have refused to work.

He has not given any signs so far that he may give up to make sure his party leads Government.

The question is the Chancellor will be named by the ranks of FPO”, said Catherine Stainer-Haemmerle, political science professor at Carinthia University.

If that happens, then I must say that Austria's role in the European Union will be completely different. Kickl has often said that [the prime minister of Hungary] Victor Orban is an example to follow for him, and he will take that position”, she added.

The FPO's victory will make Austria the latest country in the EU to mark increased support for the extreme right, behind countries like the Netherlands, France and Germany.

The FPO is Eurosceptic and friendly to Russia, as well as critical of Islam, and has pledged strict rules against asylum seekers. /Radio Free Europe