FPÖ’s recent event in Vösendorf drew around 3,000 supporters as party leader Herbert Kickl expressed his vision for Austria, positioning himself as a potential Chancellor. He emphasized the need for honest governance and criticized previous coalition failures. Kickl outlined a plan for budget cuts while assuring careful implementation to avoid EU oversight. Despite challenges, he celebrated securing 6.4 billion euros to prevent an EU deficit procedure. The mood among supporters was surprisingly positive regarding potential coalition negotiations with the ÖVP.
FPÖ’s Exciting Event Sparks Enthusiasm in Vösendorf
The atmosphere at the FPÖ events is always vibrant, but the current success of the party has attracted a massive crowd to Vösendorf, located south of Vienna, on Saturday morning. The hotel’s pyramid-shaped event hall is packed with approximately 3,000 officials and supporters. While some attendees are waiting in a long line at the bar, a few free seats remain, and many others stand in anticipation. Bright red-white-red paper flags and Kickl signs adorn the festival benches, ready to be waved enthusiastically as party leader Herbert Kickl makes his entrance to the tune of “Simply the Best.”
Herbert Kickl’s Vision for Austria
Herbert Kickl is heralded as the “future Federal Chancellor,” despite the fact that coalition negotiations with the conservative ÖVP have only just commenced. Above the stage, a bold message reads, “Governing Austria honestly.” Traditionally, the FPÖ uses its New Year’s meeting to kick off the political season, and this year is no exception, with events rapidly unfolding in the first two weeks. Following the failure of a three-party coalition that excluded the FPÖ, Kickl has finally received the mandate to form a government and stands on the brink of becoming Chancellor.
While Kickl aims to temper expectations among his supporters, his presence transforms into a display of strength. He believes that 2025 is off to a fantastic start, characterizing the collapse of the “sweetener” coalition as a liberating New Year’s concert. He criticizes the “system parties,” accusing them of leaving behind a billion-euro budget deficit and mismanaging the country. Kickl asserts that after years of division and manipulation, a new era of governance centered on honesty is essential.
During his speech, Kickl outlines a vision for “five good years,” highlighting key campaign promises and engaging in his customary jabs at the EU, media, and political rivals. Notably, he avoids overly harsh provocations, suggesting that no freedom-loving individual desires to leave the EU; instead, they seek a new phase of self-reflection. He also clarifies that the FPÖ has no ties to Russia, emphasizing neutrality as a guiding principle.
Kickl warns that change will not occur overnight and that the path ahead is fraught with challenges. He describes the “government negotiation project” as a complex undertaking but celebrates a significant milestone in swiftly gathering 6.4 billion euros to temporarily avert an EU deficit procedure. This achievement, he notes, stems from savings proposals submitted to Brussels just days prior.
While detailing the necessity of budget cuts, Kickl acknowledges that these decisions may not sit well with everyone in his base. He reassures supporters that the cuts will be implemented cautiously to avoid EU oversight of the Austrian budget. He proudly declares that a “gigantic success” has been achieved even before assuming office.
Remarkably, the two negotiating parties solidified their approach to budget consolidation in just three days—a feat that had eluded the ÖVP, Social Democrats, and Liberals in recent weeks. The conservatives are now framing this as a victory, leading many to speculate that a blue-black coalition may be on the horizon. Interestingly, Kickl refrains from criticizing his potential coalition partner during the event, a stark contrast to his previous rhetoric.
In conversations with FPÖ supporters at the event, there is surprisingly little negativity directed at the ÖVP, despite the party’s prior labeling of Kickl as a security risk. The mood appears to differ among the conservative base, which has experienced unrest following recent developments. Criticism has also been voiced within the European faction EVP, particularly from the CDU in Germany. Longtime ÖVP MEP Lukas Mandl suggests considering a minority government as an alternative, noting that there is widespread skepticism toward Kickl within the party.
Recent controversies, including comments made by FPÖ parliamentarians about refugees, have added to the tension. The ÖVP has firmly stated there will be no “Öxit” under their leadership. However, Kickl’s recent statements indicate that this issue may not pose a significant obstacle in negotiations.
A recent state election in Burgenland, the smallest federal state, served as a litmus test for the parties involved. The ÖVP suffered a loss of over 8 percentage points, yet anticipated even greater declines given its tarnished credibility. In contrast, the FPÖ emerged victorious, surpassing the conservatives and more than doubling its voter share to 23 percent. However, they fell short of unseating Social Democratic governor Hans Peter Doskozil, indicating that while the blue wave Kickl spoke of continues to sweep across Austria, its political impact in Burgenland remains limited.