Projections suggest the FPO will come out on top but will fall far short of an absolute majority, meaning it will need to find a coalition partner in parliament to form a stable government, if President Alexander Van der Bellen asks.
Head of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) Herbert Kickl speaks during a televised debate in Vienna, Austria, September 29. Photo: Reuters
What options do FPO leaders have?
The only party that could clearly be open to a coalition with the FPO is the ruling conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP). However, the OVP leader, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, has ruled out forming a government with FPO leader Herbert Kickl.
This raises the question of whether Mr Kickl will step down to allow another member of his party to become prime minister.
FPO - OVP Alliance
The two parties share views on many important policy areas, particularly on pushing for tighter immigration regulations. Both favor tax cuts to revive a sluggish economy that is headed for a second straight year of recession.
However, talks could be complicated by the strained relationship between Mr Kickl and Prime Minister Nehammer, who has described Mr Kickl as a conspiracy theorist unfit to lead.
OVP can still form a government
The OVP is a party in power. It has been in power for the past 37 years.
While many in the OVP feel closest ideologically to the FPO, in principle the OVP would still have an alternative to a coalition with the FPO: a three-way coalition with the Social Democrats coming in third and one of two parties with less than 10% of the vote, the liberal Neos or the left-wing Greens.
In that scenario, the OVP would be the largest party, meaning Mr Nehammer could continue as chancellor. That might be more attractive than being a partner with the FPO.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-ao-dang-tu-do-cuc-huu-chien-thang-nhung-co-the-nam-quyen-khong-post314545.html
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