Austrian Far-Right Resurgence: How the OVP's Policy Shift Fosters Opportunities for Radical Governance

Austrian Far-Right Resurgence: How the OVP's Policy Shift Fosters Opportunities for Radical Governance

A Bold Step Forward, a Questionable Partnership: The Austrian Right's Apparent Return to Power

As Austria celebrated its 30th year as an EU member in early 2023, the festivities were swiftly overshadowed by a political standoff that threatened to push the country in a far-right direction. The failure of coalition negotiations between the People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal NEOS left the door wide open for the anti-EU, right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) to make a comeback, engendering concerns about the erosion of liberal democracy and the center-right's complicity in enabling it.

Following the breakdown of talks between the mainstream parties, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen extended a mandate to FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, who oversaw a landslide victory in last year's national election with a record-breaking 29% of the vote. Despite earlier commitments to keep Kickl out of power, the ÖVP, often referred to as Austria's Europapartei ("Europe Party"), had a sudden change of heart, preparing to negotiate with the far right.

Historically, the ÖVP has demonstrated a willingness to accommodate the FPÖ, with partnerships in 2000, 2003, and 2017-2019 that have had profound implications for Austrian politics and liberal democracy. These alliances have often resulted in increased polarization, weakening liberal democratic norms by normalizing extremist rhetoric and policies. Internationally, such coalitions faced criticism and sanctions, further isolating Austria within the European Union.

In 2023, the ÖVP appears ready to risk repeating history, brushing aside concerns about the FPÖ's Eurosceptic rhetoric, admiration for Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán, and its affiliation with the Eurosceptic "Patriots for Europe" faction in the European Parliament. With the ÖVP seemingly keen to turn a blind eye to positions that contradict its pro-European values, the specter of a far-right government looms large.

The ÖVP's about-face on working with Kickl may raise eyebrows, but its inconsistency and disingenuousness are not unexpected. In 2021, ÖVP ministers resigning if former chancellor Sebastian Kurz left office proved to be an empty promise, as most remained in their positions until the coalition with the Greens ended. Such instances underscore the need to view the ÖVP's commitments with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Many worry that a far-right government would jeopardize Austria's democratic future, leaving civil society and the media as the potential guardians of liberal democratic values. However, the ÖVP, as a junior coalition partner, would be ill-equipped to safeguard democratic principles against a far-right ally that has a history of undermining societal norms. The ÖVP's track record of accommodating the FPÖ's attacks on democracy casts a grim light on its resolve to uphold democratic norms should it enter another partnership with the far right.

Gabriela Greilinger, a PhD student at the University of Georgia, has studied the far right in Europe. In light of the ÖVP's apparent willingness to empower the FPÖ again, she warns that the task of defending liberal democratic values may fall to civil society and the media. It seems that history may be on the verge of repeating itself, with the future of liberal democracy in Austria hanging in the balance.

1. The erosion of liberal democracy in Austria is a concern as civil society and the media may have to step up in the face of a potential far-right government.
2. The OVP's historical accommodation of the FPO, despite its extremist rhetoric and policies, has resulted in increased polarization.
3. The failure of coalition negotiations between mainstream parties in Austria opened the door for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), sparking concerns about the country's political direction.
4. In 2023, the OVP's willingness to negotiate with the FPO, despite its Eurosceptic rhetoric and affiliations, suggests a disregard for pro-European values.
5. The OVP's cooperation with the FPO in the past has led to the normalization of extremist policies and rhetoric, weakening liberal democratic norms.
6. The FPO's admiration for Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán and its membership in the Eurosceptic "Patriots for Europe" faction raises questions about its commitment to liberal democracy.
7. The OVP's inconsistency and disingenuousness, as shown by its broken promise to resign if former chancellor Sebastian Kurz left office, casts doubt on its commitment to democratic values.
8. The OVP's partnership with the FPO in various years has had significant implications for Austrian politics and liberal democracy, often resulting in international criticism and sanctions.
9. The potential return of the FPO to power in Austria, as indicated by its landslide victory in the 2022 national election, threatens to push the country in a far-right direction.
10. The task of defending liberal democratic values in Austria may fall to civil society and the media, who might need to play a more active role in promoting democracy.
11. The FPO's influence on policy and legislation could have far-reaching consequences for education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development, affecting the future of Austrian society.
12. The FPO's return to power could impact various sectors, including online-education, job-search, and general-news, potentially restricting access to information and opportunities.
13. The FPO's stance on war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and accidents, including car-accidents and fires, could lead to policy changes that might have negative consequences for public safety.
14. The FPO's policies regarding learning, goal-setting, lifelong-learning, skills-training, and mindfulness might reflect a narrow focus, ignoring the importance of these areas for personal growth and productivity.
15. Sports, particularly football, can serve as a common ground for unity and peace, but the FPO's attitudes towards European leagues such as the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, Laliga, UEFA, NFL, and NCAA Football could impact sports diplomacy in Austria.
16. As Austria navigates this political crisis, the potential for unexpected alliances and policy changes underscores the importance of vigilance and continued education-and-self-development in understanding the complexities of politics, especially in relation to migration, policy-and-legislation, and civic engagement.

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