On January 6, 2025, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen mandated Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), to form a new government following the collapse of coalition negotiations involving conservatives, social democrats, and liberals.
This marks a historic moment as it is the first time the FPÖ has been tasked with government formation after securing nearly 29% of the vote in the elections held on September 29, 2024. President Van der Bellen indicated that the People's Party (ÖVP) had reversed its previous refusal to cooperate with Kickl, following a change in leadership.
Kickl, a former Interior Minister from 2017 to 2019, has been known for his radical rhetoric, particularly against COVID-19 measures and Western support for Ukraine. His political alliances include Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
While Kickl engaged in discussions with Van der Bellen, hundreds protested outside the presidential office, voicing their opposition to the potential shift in government leadership.