Austria’s President Denies Right-Wing Freedom Party Chance to Form Government

Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl accused the president of breaking ’tried and tested and normal processes’ but said he was still optimistic.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (L) and the Chairman of Austria's Freedom Party (FPOe) Herbert Kickl pose for journalists during a meeting at the Austrian President's office, at Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria on Oct. 21, 2024. Georg Hochmuth/APA/AFP via Getty Images

Austria’s president has denied the populist Freedom Party (FPO) the chance to form a ruling coalition and instead entered talks with the center-right People’s Party (OVP), the runner-up in September’s election.

Last month, the right-wing FPO secured its highest share of the national vote for the first time, beating Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s governing OVP.