‘Whizz-kid’ tipped to lead Austria
Vienna, Oct. 15: Austria’s political “whizzkid” Sebastian Kurz, 31, looked on course on Sunday to become Europe’s youngest leader, likely in coalition with the far-right, after his conservative party was projected to come first in elections.
Projections put Mr Kurz’s People’s Party (OeVP) on 30.2 per cent, followed by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) on 26.8 per cent and incumbent Chancellor Christian’s Social Democrats (SPOe) on 26.3 per cent.
Mr Kurz, nicknamed “wunderwuzzi”, is expected to form a coalition with the anti-immigration FPOe of Heinz-Christian Strache, 48. It would be the first time it has entered government since 2000 under Joerg Haider.
Another option for Mr Kurz would be another “grand coalition” with the SPOe, but after 10 acrimonious years governing together — ended early by Mr Kurz in May — this is seen as less likely.
The FPOe’s return to power in the wealthy EU member would be a fresh headache for Brussels as it struggles with Brexit and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.
Like the Alternative for Germany, which last month became the third-largest party in the Bundestag, and France’s National Front, the FPOe has stoked concerns about a record influx of migrants into Europe.
The party was founded by ex-Nazis in the 1950s and is highly critical of the EU.