New Poll Suggests FPÖ’s Momentum, While SPÖ and ÖVP Stagnate
A recent survey by Lazarsfeld for oe24 shows that the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has halted its decline and remains in the lead with 34 percent of the vote. The survey suggests that a potential new election scenario is particularly attractive for the Freedom Party.
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) comes in second with 22 percent, significantly behind the FPÖ, while the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) remains below the 20 percent mark with 19 percent.
At the lower end, there is a shift: the Greens overtake the NEOS, now with 10 percent, just ahead of the liberal party, which has dropped to 9 percent.
In the Chancellor’s race, Herbert Kickl of the FPÖ maintains a clear lead.
Andreas Babler of the SPÖ and Alexander Schallenberg of the ÖVP trail behind, with 13 percent each, while Beate Meinl-Reisinger of the NEOS and Werner Kogler of the Greens receive 7 and 5 percent, respectively.
Despite stalled coalition talks, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl showed a fighting spirit over the weekend.
In a video message to the “Patriots’ Congress” in Madrid, Kickl declared that the “Patriots for Europe” feel their moment has arrived. “We are paving the way for a Europe of free fatherlands” he said.
Kickl was represented at the meeting by FPÖ delegation leader Harald Vilimsky, as he was engaged in talks in Vienna.
At the gathering of right-wing parties from 12 EU member states, including Italy’s Vice-Premier Matteo Salvini and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Kickl called for “making Europe great again.” He criticized the EU for being dominated by “centralists and left-wing ideologues” and expressed support for the growing resistance.
Kickl was particularly pleased about the inclusion of Netanjahu’s Likud party as an observer in the EU faction “Patriots for Europe.”
In contrast, the ÖVP aims to maintain a pro-European course. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, General Secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized in the Ö1 Morning Journal that a future FPÖ-ÖVP government would need a mechanism to coordinate voting behavior at the EU level.
The FPÖ continues to claim EU portfolios for itself and demands an end to sanctions against Russia, a red line for the ÖVP. Hattmannsdorfer underlined the need for a “West-oriented” and “pro-European and international orientation” for Austria as an export nation, warning that the chances for an agreement on the EU issue are “50:50.