Right-Wing Parties in Austria: FPÖ and the Political Right Explained

Right-Wing Parties in Austria: FPÖ and the Political Right Explained Guide to right-wing parties in Austria: FPÖ history, ideology, and election results. Key positions on migration, EU, and social policy in Austrian right-wing politics. Topics: News, Politics.

Austria’s political landscape has shifted significantly to the right in recent years. With the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) emerging as the strongest party in the 2024 national elections, understanding right-wing parties in Austria has become essential for anyone living in or moving to the country. This guide covers the main parties, their history, policies, and influence.

The FPÖ: History and Ideological Evolution

The Freedom Party of Austria was founded in 1956 and has undergone several transformations. Its first two leaders, Anton Reinthaller and Friedrich Peter, were former SS officers. During the 1960s and 1970s, the party shifted towards the political center and was considered a liberal force.

The turning point came in 1986 when Jörg Haider took over leadership and moved the FPÖ decisively to the right. Haider turned the FPÖ into one of Europe’s most successful right-wing populist parties. Under his leadership, the party achieved 26.9% in the 1999 national election – a record at the time – and formed a coalition government with the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) in 2000. This marked the first time since 1945 that a right-wing populist party had entered a European government. The EU imposed diplomatic sanctions on Austria in response.

After internal power struggles and the split of the BZÖ (Alliance for the Future of Austria) in 2005, Heinz-Christian Strache took over. The FPÖ recovered and entered another coalition with the ÖVP in 2017. The Ibiza affair in 2019 – a secretly recorded video showing Strache offering government contracts – triggered a major crisis and ended the coalition.

Herbert Kickl and the Rise to First Place

Since 2021, Herbert Kickl, a former Interior Minister and longtime party strategist, has led the FPÖ. He has further radicalized the party’s rhetoric and policies. In the September 2024 election, the FPÖ won 28.85% of the vote, becoming the strongest party for the first time in its history, with 57 out of 183 seats in the National Council.

According to tagesschau.de, the FPÖ’s election program focuses on what it calls “Festung Österreich” (Fortress Austria) – strict migration control aiming to reduce asylum applications to zero and push for “remigration.” Kickl has repeatedly used terms associated with the far-right Identitarian Movement, calling for a “stop to the great population exchange.”

At the European level, the FPÖ is a founding member of Patriots.eu and sits with its six MEPs in the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group.

The FPÖ is no longer a normal party — it is a far-right party that systematically works to hollow out democratic institutions.

— Cas Mudde, political scientist, University of Georgia

Other Right-Wing Parties and Movements

Beyond the FPÖ, several other right-wing parties and groups exist in Austria:

BZÖ (Alliance for the Future of Austria) – Founded by Jörg Haider in 2005 after splitting from the FPÖ, the party was strong in Carinthia for years. After Haider’s death in 2008, it quickly lost relevance and is now virtually defunct.

Team Carinthia (Team Kärnten) – A regional party in Carinthia focusing on state-level politics with conservative positions. It is not classified as far-right but holds traditional conservative views.

MFG (People Freedom Fundamental Rights) – Originating as a protest movement against COVID-19 restrictions, this party has shifted to the right, combining anti-vaccination stances with migration-critical positions. It held some seats in Upper Austria and Salzburg.

Identitarian Movement Austria (IBÖ) – Not a political party but an extra-parliamentary far-right movement closely linked to the FPÖ. It promotes ethnic nationalism and “ethnopluralism,” with several activists working as FPÖ campaigners.

According to the Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance (DÖW), the FPÖ features prominently in the 2025 extremism report with numerous documented far-right incidents.

Key Political Positions of Right-Wing Parties

The right-wing parties in Austria share several core positions, though they differ in radicality:

Immigration and Asylum: The FPÖ demands drastic reductions in immigration, including “zero asylum applications,” deportation of rejected applicants, and restricted family reunification. Social welfare benefits should be reserved for Austrian citizens.

EU and Foreign Policy: The FPÖ is Eurosceptic but stops short of demanding an “Öxit” (Austrian EU exit). It advocates returning powers to member states, opposes EU sanctions against Russia, and positions itself as a neutrality party. It maintains close ties with Hungary’s Fidesz party and France’s National Rally.

Social and Identity Politics: The FPÖ opposes what it calls “gender ideology,” demands a ban on headscarves in public services and schools, and promotes traditional family values. It rejects LGBTQ+ content in school curricula.

Economic Policy: The party combines economically liberal positions with social populism, calling for lower taxes for businesses and low-income earners, while strengthening the welfare state – limited to Austrian citizens.

As PolitPro outlines, the FPÖ sits firmly on the right of the political spectrum, classified as right-wing populist and Eurosceptic.

Election Results and Political Influence

The following table shows the FPÖ’s performance in recent national elections:

Year	Vote Share	Seats	Position
1999	26.9%	52	Second strongest
2002	10.0%	18	Post-coalition decline
2008	17.5%	34	Recovery under Strache
2013	20.5%	40	Steady growth
2017	26.0%	51	Coalition with ÖVP
2019	16.2%	31	Ibiza aftermath
2024	28.85%	57	Strongest party

As the Heinrich Böll Foundation notes, the FPÖ’s success is part of a broader European trend, with similar developments seen in Germany (AfD), France (National Rally), and governing parties in Hungary and Italy.

Controversies and Far-Right Incidents

The FPÖ has been accompanied by far-right incidents throughout its history. The Mauthausen Committee regularly documents cases of Nazi glorification and neo-Nazi activities within the party. The 2025 Extremism Report by the Documentation Centre lists numerous incidents, including:

– Members of the Olympia fraternity, a Burschenschaft with documented neo-Nazi connections, have repeatedly held key party positions. Harald Stefan and Norbert Nemeth were involved in coalition negotiations with the ÖVP in 2025. – Several FPÖ politicians have been convicted under Austria’s Prohibition Act (Verbotsgesetz), which bans Nazi activity. – The party is regularly monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The ÖVP initially ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ under Kickl. However, after negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS collapsed in January 2025, President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the FPÖ with forming a government – a historic move closely watched across Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What right-wing parties exist in Austria? The main right-wing party is the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria). Regional groups include Team Carinthia, while the Identitarian Movement operates outside parliament.

How strong is the FPÖ? The FPÖ won 28.85% in the September 2024 national election, becoming the strongest party with 57 out of 183 seats.

Is the FPÖ considered far-right? Classification is debated. The FPÖ describes itself as right-wing populist and social-patriotic. However, Austria’s constitutional protection office and the DÖW document numerous far-right incidents within the party.

Has the FPÖ been in government? Yes. The FPÖ was in coalition with the ÖVP from 2000–2005 and again from 2017–2019. After the 2024 election, it was tasked with forming a government.

Outlook: The Right in Austrian Politics

The political right in Austria is currently at its strongest point since 1945. With nearly 29% voter support, the FPÖ dominates the right-wing spectrum and has overtaken the conservative ÖVP. Future developments depend on whether the party can maintain its polling numbers and form a stable government.

For immigrants and expatriates, this political shift means a changing policy landscape. Proposed FPÖ restrictions on residency and social welfare law could significantly alter conditions for living and working in Austria.

What you can do: Stay informed about Austrian politics with us. We monitor policy changes and analyse how they affect expats and immigrants. Subscribe to the how2austria.com newsletter to get key updates delivered to your inbox.