Austria Votes—Will the Cordon Sanitaire Hold?

Austria is approaching a pivotal moment as it holds on September 29 possibly its most consequential federal elections in decades—for the country and for European politics. The radical-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), twice a junior partner in coalition governments in the past two decades, is leading in the polls and aiming for the chancellor’s office.

What social, economic, and political shifts have led to this troubling scenario for Austria and Europe? Will the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) agree to be the crucial coalition partner for the FPÖ, or will it opt instead for a centrist-progressive alliance even if this may cost it politically in the long run? Might Vienna set a new direction in EU party politics with a right-wing government consisting of members of the European People’s Party and Patriots for Europe groups, under the leadership of the latter? Could these elections signal the beginning of democratic backsliding in Austria? Finally, how might EU support for Ukraine be affected if the pro-Russian FPÖ comes to power?

Our panelists will explore these critical questions, shedding light on the domestic and European ramifications of Austria’s elections, and on what their result could mean for the continent’s political landscape in the years to come.

For more information, please contact Zsuzsanna Végh ([email protected]).

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together.