Austria Forms New Coalition Government, Excludes Far-Right FPÖ

Austria's right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) won the largest share of votes in the recent parliamentary election, securing 29.2%, but was sidelined as the conservative People's Party (OeVP) formed a coalition with two centrist parties, the Social Democrats (SPO) and the liberal NEOS. This coalition marks a significant political maneuver, preventing the far right from gaining power despite its electoral success. Following months of negotiations, the new coalition government, which will be led by OeVP chief Christian Stocker as chancellor and SPO leader Andreas Babler as vice chancellor, aims to address pressing issues such as immigration and EU relations. The coalition agreement is seen as a response to a trend across Europe, where traditional parties have increasingly worked together to keep right-wing parties from power, despite their electoral gains. Critics question whether the FPO's decision to withdraw from negotiations was a strategic mistake that will impact its future influence. The government program includes measures to strengthen integration and curb anti-Semitism, reflecting a hardline stance on immigration issues.