Another right-wing, anti-establishment party has emerged victorious in Europe, this time in Austria’s parliamentary elections. Despite securing the popular vote, the Austrian Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl, finds itself blocked from forming a government. The situation mirrors an ongoing trend across Europe: the sidelining of populist movements despite their electoral success. From France to Germany, populist right-wing parties are continuously shut out by the establishment elites, who form unlikely alliances to maintain control.

In the current political lexicon, the term “populist” has become synonymous with right-wing, anti-immigration, and often anti-establishment sentiment. However, at its core, populism simply means aligning with the interests of the general populace. In recent years, populist movements across Europe have capitalized on the growing discontent among citizens over issues like mass migration, rising cost of living, and perceived government inefficiency. Yet, rather than being viewed as a legitimate reflection of public dissatisfaction, these movements are often labeled as far-right, dangerous, or even bordering on fascism.

In Austria’s case, the media and political elites have gone so far as to invoke the specter of Nazism to discredit the Freedom Party’s victory. The Associated Press noted that the party’s win marked the “first far-right national election win since World War II,” with a clear attempt to tie the party to Austria’s dark past. But when populist leaders across Europe criticize their respective governments for being out of touch, it’s not Nazi ideology they’re channeling-it’s the frustrations of voters who feel ignored by the establishment.

Herbert Kickl, who took over leadership of Austria’s Freedom Party in 2021, has resonated with voters by addressing their immediate concerns: the rising cost of living, particularly the struggle to afford basic necessities like electricity and food. Unlike the establishment parties that have downplayed or ignored these issues, Kickl’s message has been simple-Austrians deserve better. This pragmatic approach has clearly struck a chord, with his party securing nearly 29 percent of the popular vote in the most recent parliamentary elections.

Kickl’s criticisms of the European Union, particularly Ursula von der Leyen, the unelected European Commission president, as a warmonger, further cement his appeal among those disillusioned with the political status quo. His party’s success in both national and European parliamentary elections points to widespread frustration with the EU’s handling of economic and political crises, particularly in relation to immigration and foreign policy.

Migration remains a particularly sensitive issue in Austria, a country with one of the highest numbers of refugees per capita in Europe. Recent incidents, including Islamic State threats to a Vienna concert and police raids ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, have only heightened public concerns about asylum seekers. Kickl, a former interior minister, has made it clear that he believes current European human rights rules are too restrictive and prevent Austria from adequately dealing with the asylum crisis. His hardline stance on migration is a significant factor in his party’s success, resonating with voters who feel that the establishment parties have failed to address the issue.

It’s telling that, despite these concerns, the Austrian establishment has united against the Freedom Party. Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) has categorically ruled out forming a coalition with Kickl’s party, citing concerns about responsible governance. Nehammer’s ÖVP came in second with 26 percent of the vote, but with the support of the center-left, they remain poised to keep Kickl and his party out of power, effectively sidelining the voters’ will.

Austria is far from the only country where populist movements are being blocked by establishment coalitions. In France, President Emmanuel Macron recently employed a similar tactic to prevent the populist right from gaining power. Despite the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, winning the popular vote in the European elections, Macron strategically withdrew candidates in districts where the right risked winning, ensuring that the populist movement was kept out of government. In the end, Macron handed the role of Prime Minister to Michel Barnier, a technocrat from a center-right party that had been soundly rejected by voters.
Similarly, in Germany, populist right-wing parties have seen electoral victories in state elections, only to be blocked from forming governments by the establishment. The political elites seem willing to join forces across ideological lines to prevent any party labeled as “populist” from gaining real power, even if that means ignoring the will of the people.

This recurring pattern reveals a troubling reality for European democracy. The very political elites who claim to protect democracy are undermining it by preventing the parties that win elections from governing. The justification for this is often the fear of another authoritarian regime arising, a fear that’s frequently stoked by comparing modern populist movements to Nazi Germany. This argument is especially potent in Austria, given the country’s historical ties to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.

What’s particularly hypocritical about the establishment’s treatment of right-wing populism is its selective outrage over historical connections to fascism. While parties like Austria’s Freedom Party are relentlessly scrutinized for any potential links to World War II-era ideologies, there’s little outrage over the neo-Nazi elements within Ukraine’s Azov Battalion, which has been openly praised by the same European elites. The media and political class seem to conveniently ignore these contradictions when it serves their geopolitical interests.

The establishment’s labeling of populist movements as a “boost for Putin” is another predictable strategy. In the eyes of the Western media, any deviation from the establishment’s agenda is framed as a victory for Russia. When voters in Austria or elsewhere in Europe reject the status quo, they are not acting on behalf of Putin-they are simply expressing dissatisfaction with their current leaders. But by equating populist victories with Russian influence, the establishment discredits the legitimate concerns of voters and casts them as unwitting agents of a foreign power.

As Europe continues to grapple with populist movements, the question remains: will the political elites continue to sideline the will of the people, or will they finally confront the underlying issues driving these movements? So far, the strategy has been to maintain power at all costs, even if that means undermining the very democratic principles they claim to defend.

In the end, voters across Europe are increasingly concerned with issues like the economy, migration, and a general disillusionment with the establishment. Populism, for all its flaws, represents a response to these concerns. Rather than demonizing these movements, perhaps the political elites should start listening to what the people want. After all, isn’t that what democracy is supposed to be about?

The post How the EU’s fear of populism undermines popular vote appeared first on BLiTZ.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings