Victory in Austria is another step in far right’s march across Europe

If FPÖ can take power, it will join a growing Moscow-friendly, anti-Brussels, autocratic bloc in the EU

Herbert Kickl, leader of the Freedom Party of Austria waves to supporters, in Vienna, Austria. Pidture: AP

It had been expected for months — the party had been leading the polls since 2022. Nor was it exactly a crushing victory: far from an absolute majority, and just two points more than its previous highest score. It may not even end up in government.

But the first place finish in Austria’s parliamentary elections by the far-right, anti-immigration, Russia-friendly Eurosceptic Freedom party (FPÖ) nonetheless marks another significant step in the radical right’s onward march across Europe.