Austria’s anti-sanctions, anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) continues to surge in popularity.

Austria’s opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ) has significantly increased its lead over the other Austrian parties, according to recent polling cited by Remix News.

Not only is the FPO Austria’s most popular party, but it would score 32 per cent if elections were held today, according to a fresh poll by APA/ATV Austria Trend. Meanwhile, support has dropped for the moderate Christian Democrats (OVP), who are in second place at 22 per cent. The OVP, which is currently on government with the Greens, has seen its support halve from its 44 per cent polling high in 2020.

The Freedom Party currently commands a full 10-point lead. The social-democratic SPO achieved 21 per cent, the Greens 9 per cent, while the leftist-liberal Neos sits at 9 per cent. In addition, 55 per cent of Austrians say they can support FPO’s participation in government, with only 35 per cent opposed to the idea.

FPO’s rise in the polls began in May 2022, and it was only last month that the party rose above the 30-per-cent mark for the first time. The popularity of SPO, which was just under 30 per cent in the summer of 2022, has dropped to 21 per cent.

Austria saw a record number of asylum applications in 2022. In fact, asylum applications nearly tripled since 2021, reaching almost 60,0000. The news has shocked Austria and led to a sharp backlash from a population highly skeptical of mass immigration. The FPO, more so than any other major party, has made immigration restriction central to their platform.

At the same time, FPO is the only major political party opposed to the anti-Russia sanctions, which it blames for creating inflation and economic turmoil in the Austrian and European economies.

„It’s finally time to make a stand in the EU and proclaim that these sanctions harm us much more than they harm Putin. And our people have to foot the bill for them,”

– Dagmar Belakovich, FPO’s deputy chairwoman told the National Council’s plenary session last year.

The party’s leader, Herbert Kickl, has also pointed to the absolute necessity of Russian energy for Austria’s households and businesses. He blames much of Austria’s inflation woes on the economic sanctions on Russia.

„If they were honest, they would have to tell people that we can’t last long without Russian oil and gas. We need this cheap energy for households, for heating, for cooking, for hot water, and to keep companies running,”

– Mr Kickl said.

As Remix News has highlighted in its previous piece, aside from security and foreign policy, the FPO has enjoyed success with its proposals for economic reform, recently calling for the introduction of a rent freeze until 2026 to provide relief to those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The party also remains fiercely opposed to the rising digital economic climate and staunchly supports the right to cash payments being enshrined in Austria’s constitution.