Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) achieved a historic victory on Sunday, winning the state election in Styria for the first time, Reuters reported. This marks a significant development following the party’s strong performance in September’s general election and highlights its growing influence as national coalition talks continue without its involvement. Styria, which includes Austria’s second-largest city, Graz, saw the FPO secure its place as the leading party in the region. This outcome adds pressure on party leaders currently negotiating Austria's first three-way national government since 1949. The FPO’s win in Styria is only its second-ever state election victory, following its dominance in Carinthia under former leader Joerg Haider during the late 1990s and early 2000s. "There's been a landslide in Styria. I didn't expect such a resounding result," said Stefan Hermann, the FPO's deputy leader in Styria, in an interview with national broadcaster ORF . A projection by pollster Foresight for ORF and news agency APA estimated the FPO at 35.0%, with the ruling conservative People's Party (OVP) trailing at 26.7%. For the first time since World War Two, neither the OVP nor the Social Democrats (SPO) managed to win in Styria, a state that borders Slovenia and is famously the birthplace of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite its victory, the FPO will need to secure a coalition partner to achieve a majority in the state assembly and form a government. At the national level, FPO leader Herbert Kickl continues to criticize attempts to form what he describes as a "coalition of losers" among the parties that placed second, third, and fourth in September's general election. Kickl argues that, as the first-place party, the FPO should have been tasked with forming a government. Related articles: Local authorities confirm stabbing was ISIS attack Knife attack in Austria leaves teen dead, four hurt Will Herbert Kickl become Austria's next chancellor? Taylor Swift concert plot originally targeted Israeli embassy The FPO garnered 29% of the vote in September but would require a coalition partner to govern. However, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the left-wing Greens, noted that no other party was willing to collaborate with the FPO under Kickl’s leadership. As a result, he tasked Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the second-placed OVP, with forming a government. Nehammer is currently in coalition discussions with the SPO and the liberal Neos.
