VIENNA: Austrians go to the polls on Sunday in a general election that could see the far-right narrowly defeat the conservatives to claim a historic victory in the Alpine EU nation. The Freedom Party (FPOe), which has been in government several times before, has never won a national vote, although even if it wins, it is not certain that it will be able to form a government. Since tough-talking Herbert Kickl took over in 2021, the party has seen a resurgence in popularity amid voter anger over migration, inflation and Covid restrictions, in line with far-right parties elsewhere in Europe. “I want to vote for Kickl with all my heart. He needs to solve the migration problem,” doctor Angela Erstic, 69, told AFP at the final FPOe rally in central Vienna late on Friday. Kickl, 55, promotes the FPOe’s image as an anti-establishment party, promoting slogans such as “Dare to try something new”. The party now has the support of 27 percent in the polls. The ruling conservative People’s Party (OevP) is lagging behind, but its leader, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (51), has managed to close the gap in recent weeks. The OeVP, which promises “stability instead of chaos”, has the support of 25 percent in the latest polls.
