Austria looks set for protracted coalition talks

Significance

The party, which has consistently led opinion polls for more than two years, finished 2.6 percentage points (pp) ahead of the centre-right People’s Party (OVP). The OVP, Social Democrats (SPO), and Greens all lost support in this election, while the liberal New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS) made small gains.

Impacts

• The FPO’s victory will push the OVP further to the right, especially on immigration.
• Should the FPO form part of the next government, it would be more difficult for the EU to achieve unity on Ukraine and Russia.
• Divisions over economic policy would be much more apparent in a government involving the OVP and SPO.