“Right-wing bang”, “caesura” and applause for the FPÖ

The FPÖ has won, but where is Austria heading? The international media watched the election in Austria closely – and commented on the result with concern and irritation. Especially in English-speaking countries, the FPÖ’s past is vehemently remembered – and its conscious choice of words.

A “right-wing bang” in Austria: Die Bildzeitungalways pointed in their formulations, called the result a “right-wing bang”. However, the paper replaced the word Volkskanzler, always used by Herbert Kickl, with “Citizens’ Chancellor” for no apparent reason.

BBC reminiscent of Hitler’s choice of words: Die BBC is primarily dedicated to Herbert Kickl and his election promises. He promised the voters a “Fortress Austria” and called himself “People’s Chancellor” – the term is used in the original. He reminds “some Austrians of the word that was used to describe Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany,” writes the broadcaster.

Quick congratulations from the sister parties

Just minutes after the results were published, the AfD congratulated its sister party. “Congratulations to Herbert Kickl and the FPÖ,” wrote party leader Alice Weidel on the platform Wilders wrote, followed by three upper arm emojis.

Reality in Austria, what is yet to come in Germany: The German one HE DOES deals with the fact that the “very far right-wing FPÖ” has long since risen to become a central force that can “drive politics forward” – although it “became more and more radicalized under Herbert Kickl (…) and makes no secret of it their proximity to right-wing extremists.” In Austria, “what is coming to Germany from the east after the last state elections has long been a bitter reality.”

NZZ interprets the result as a “breaking point for Austria”: The NZZ calls the election a “breaking point” because FPÖ leader Kickl “can make a legitimate claim to the Chancellery.” But the result only corresponds to expectations, after all, the FPÖ has been leading all polls since the beginning of 2023. “Nevertheless, it will bring intense debates to the country in the coming weeks.”

Rundschau is reminiscent of Ibiza and hears an “alarm signal”: For the Frankfurter Rundschau It is a “more than a sobering sign that Germany is receiving from Austria”, an “alarm signal”: Even if Kickl does not become chancellor, the party “has achieved a triumphant resurgence and a remarkable result in a very short space of time.” And that, it continues, “after a corruption scandal a few years ago showed the whole world her true character.” The election should therefore be a warning to everyone in Germany who hopes that the AfD will “enclose and bourgeoisize the local right-wing populists.” Because “scandals, failures and misconduct do not harm populists.”