The far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), currently negotiating a coalition government in the Alpine state, are planning massive attacks on the working class and on migrants.

Austria's centrist parties may come to their senses and try a second round of coalition talks, or form a minority government. And even if Kickl does prevail, that doesn't mean he'll succeed. He'll soon realise governing is far harder than campaigning.

If he comes to power, sharp-tongued, far-right leader Herbert Kickl will be contemporary Austria's most controversial chancellor.

Following failed coalition negotiations in Austria, a path to power is now opening up for the right-wing Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl. His political opponents consider the 56- year-old a "security risk,

He is so abrasive that he has one of Austria's lowest personal approval ratings, but far-right chief Herbert Kickl's strategic cunning helped his party to its first ever national election win and he now has a chance to become its first chancellor.

Mr Kickl’s political hero is Viktor Orban, Hungary’s autocratic leader. But unlike Hungarian voters who first voted Mr Orban in, few Austrian voters seem enamoured with Mr Kickl. Only 2% of FPÖ voters in September said they voted for the party because of Mr Kickl, while 45% said they did so because of its policies.

For years Herbert Kickl was written off by many, including party comrades, as a figure best suited for work behind the scenes. An Eigenbrötler, they joked: someone who bakes their own bread. Now, he looks almost certain to be Austria’s next chancellor — one of the most successful figureheads for Europe’s insurgent far right.

Austria could soon have its first government led by the far right since World War II. President Alexander Van der Bellen has turned to the far-right Freedom Party and its provocative leader Herbert Ki

Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked far-right leader Herbert Kickl to form the government, bringing the Freedom Party chief closer to the chancellorship, according to a report

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen gave the green light to far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl to ... If successful, it would mark Austria’s first far-right-led government since World War II. Kickl's party secured victory in ...

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. The leader of Austria’s Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, addresses a news conference, in Vienna, Austria ...

STORY: Austria's leadership swung towards the far right on Monday, as its president tasked the leader of the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly Freedom Party with forming a coalition government.It comes after a centrist attempt to assemble one without the party,