The right-wing extremist party wins the elections in Austria and strengthens the right-wing upswing in the EU

HISTORY: EDIT 7930

Austrian voters handed the far-right Freedom Party its first-ever parliamentary election victory on Sunday.

Her victory is the latest sign of growing support for far-right parties in Europe, apparently driven by fears of immigration.

The Eurosceptic, pro-Russia party won nearly 29 percent of the vote late Sunday, according to a forecast by polling firm Foresight.

After the record presentation, director Herbert Kickl spoke.

“And you don’t have to worry, that 29% is well invested. It’s an excellent investment for the Freedom Party because one thing happened today: we actually opened that door. We have opened the door to a new era. We will now really write this new chapter of Austrian history together.”

EDIT 7340

A victory for the Freedom Party (FPÖ) comes seven decades after it was founded under a former Nazi MP.

The party has worked to moderate its image, but Kickl remains a provocative and polarizing figure who is disliked by other party leaders.

They immediately agreed that they rejected the idea of ​​a coalition with him – increasing the risk that his victory would be hollow.

EDIT 7921

UPSOT protests

A few dozen anti-FPO protesters gathered late Sunday outside the party’s election celebrations as police kept them at bay.

The FPÖ wants to stop granting asylum entirely and build a “Fortress Austria” that prevents migrants from entering the country.

Kickl also rejects aid for Ukraine and calls for the sanctions against Russia to be lifted.

The FPÖ has been criticized by other parties for its criticism of the EU and its lack of condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

https://tvscripts.int.thomsonreuters.com/vscripts/6342a6a7bad2af09e96c7dda

President Alexander Van der Bellen, who is responsible for forming the government, called on the parties to find common ground in negotiations in the coming weeks.

EDIT 7896

:21

If Kickl fails to convince another party to ally with him, it could dash the FPÖ’s hopes of forming a government and open the door for a coalition of more moderate parties.