Thousands protest in Austria as far-right FPÖ coalition talks kick off

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Vienna connected Thursday to dependable absorption to the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and its arguable leader, Herbert Kickl, who has been invited to signifier the country's caller authorities aft conjugation talks betwixt different parties broke down.

Authorities estimated astir 25,000 radical attended the protests, according to the Austrian paper Der Standard. The protesters held signs reading: "We don't privation right-wing extremism Austria" and "Never again is now". Several 100 radical besides gathered successful Austrian cities specified arsenic Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz.

During the protests, the ÖVP announced its volition to participate into conjugation negotiations with the FPÖ, a U-turn for the enactment that antecedently vowed ne'er to enactment with Kickl.

The ÖVP has antecedently governed successful a conjugation with the FPÖ, astir precocious from 2017 to 2019 — a authorities that collapsed aft the then-head of the FPÖ Heinz-Christian Strache became embroiled successful a corruption scandal.

This time, however, the ÖVP would beryllium the inferior spouse successful the conjugation aft the FPÖ won nationalist elections successful September with 29.2% of the vote.

It is presently unclear if the brace could signifier a harmonious coalition, particularly successful the discourse of the ÖVP having to defer to the FPÖ. Both person a restrictive stance connected migration and peculiarly asylum policy, nevertheless disagree drastically connected overseas policy.

The FPÖ is euroskeptic and Russia-friendly, portion the ÖVP has been steadfast successful his support of Austria's EU rank and rejection of Russian influence.

Policy differences aside, the 2 parties person spent sizeable clip criticising 1 another. Kickl has repeatedly demanded the ÖVP instrumentality work for Austria's sluggish economy, arsenic good arsenic what helium calls its failings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ÖVP, successful turn, has deemed Kickl a "security risk" to the Alpine nation.

Such was the ÖVP's dislike for Kickl, the enactment entered into conjugation negotiations with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the wide Neos enactment to deliberately artifact Kickl from power. Those negotiations fell isolated past week aft Neos withdrew, citing ideological differences.

Kickl is simply a polarising fig successful Austria who has long-attracted disapproval for his casual usage of Nazi-era presumption — having erstwhile called himself the "Volkskanzler" — arsenic good arsenic his absorption to vaccinations and lockdowns during the pandemic.

However, his enactment is presently successful a beardown presumption to statesman negotiations talks, arsenic caller polling suggests FPÖ would lone summation its enactment to 35% should discussions neglect and a caller predetermination beryllium called.