In a significant political shift in Austria, the Freedom Party (FPO), led by Herbert Kickl, achieved approximately 29% of the vote in the parliamentary election held on September 29, 2024. This marks a historic achievement for the party, which was founded in the 1950s by a former Nazi lawmaker. Following the election results, Kickl urged rival parties to allow him to lead the next government, cautioning against what he termed a 'coalition of losers.' Despite the FPO's strong showing, the ruling conservative People’s Party (OVP) has ruled out joining a government with Kickl, even though they are in a position to form a coalition. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen is currently conducting meetings with party leaders to discuss the formation of the new government. The rise of the FPO and Kickl's leadership has raised concerns among political analysts about the potential implications for Austria's domestic and foreign policies, particularly regarding the party's far-right stance. [bba515ab]