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The success of Herbert Kickl’s FPÖ is no surprise – it had been normalised by the centre right for years. Let that be a warning
While Europe may be “sleepwalking into a far-right trap ”, Austria is consciously walking straight into it. After all, polls had predicted the most recent electoral success of the Austrian Freedom party (FPÖ) for almost two years. While the far-right party’s leader, Herbert Kickl, heralded its victory as the beginning of “a new era ”, it is better understood as a seemingly unavoidable progression. If anything, the country’s recent election results confirmed a broader pattern of far-right normalisation in Europe in general and in Austria in particular.
Although 29% was indeed its best result ever in a nationwide election, the FPÖ has consistently achieved results in the double digits since 1990, has been included in the national government multiple times, and currently governs in several states with the conservative Austrian People’s party (ÖVP). After the most recent state election in Vorarlberg, the ÖVP is about to form its fourth regional coalition with the FPÖ there. As such, Austria is a perfect example of the dangerous shortsightedness of normalising far-right parties – a process led in the 21st century by, above all, conservative parties.
Cas Mudde is the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia, and author of The Far Right Today . Gabriela Greilinger is a PhD student at the University of Georgia
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