Austria turns to the right in election of 31-year-old
Chancellor-in-waiting Sebastian Kurz vows to curb immigration
Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s telegenic 31-year-old foreign minister, is set to become the nation’s next chancellor and the youngest leader in the European Union.
Returns from Sunday’s parliamentary election show that Kurz’s right-leaning People’s Party had pulled a commanding lead over the far-right Freedom Party and the center-left Social Democrats. Kurz declared victory Sunday.
Kurz, a Millennial from Vienna known for his slicked-back, dark hair and promises to curb immigration to Austria by mostly Muslim migrants, became foreign minister in 2013 at the age of 27.
Now, he’s on the path to come to power while younger than French President Emmanuel Macron, 39. He also would be younger than North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be 33. And with his calls for tougher immigration rules, Kurz effectively pushed his once center-right People’s Party further to the political right.
“It is my assignment to change this country,” Kurz said as he declared victory Sunday, with 90% of the vote counted. “I will establish a new style in our country.”
Nearly completed returns show Kurz’s party receiving 31.4% of the vote, with the far-right Freedom Party coming in second with 27.4%. The center-left Social Democrats, who now govern in coalition with the People’s Party, got 26.7%. Austria is now governed by a Social Democratic-People’s Party coalition.
A coalition will likely be formed by the People’s and Freedom parties to form a government, meaning a decided turn to the right for Austria.
Kurz took a hard line on immigration during the campaign — an issue that came front and center after the country of more than
8.7 million absorbed about
90,000 migrants, most fleeing civil war in Syria, in 2015.
On the stump, Kurz made the case for curbing benefits for new arrivals, and requiring that immigrants learn German. He consistently reminded voters that he opposed opening the borders during the 2015 migrant crisis and has vowed to slash the red tape of Austria’s bureaucracy.
In early 2016, Kurz negotiated a deal between Austria and several Eastern European countries that led to closing the migration route through the Balkans. After the move, the number of refugees arriving dropped dramatically.
While Kurz is expected to invite the Freedom Party to form a coalition to run Austria’s next government, he avoided the inflammatory rhetoric of the rightwing party and its leader, Heinz-Christian Strache.
The more measured tone of Kurz’s party perhaps made it appealing to voters concerned about immigrants, but uncomfortable with the neo-Nazi fringe attracted to the Freedom Party.
Austria’s next chancellor is an avid windsurfer and hiker.
Kurz went to the polls in Vienna with his girlfriend Susanne Thier, a finance ministry worker, by his side.