Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) delivered a seismic blow to the political establishment, tripling its vote share in Vienna’s municipal election on Sunday to secure a historic second-place finish behind the ruling Social Democrats (SPÖ).
The result cements the FPÖ’s resurgence as a dominant force in Austrian politics, capitalising on widespread discontent over migration and governance.
The FPÖ, which campaigned relentlessly against the SPÖ-led government’s migration policies, captured over 20% of the vote in the Austrian capital—a dramatic leap from its 7% result in 2020, when it was reeling from the “Ibiza-gate” corruption scandal. While falling short of its 2015 peak (30%), the result signals renewed momentum for the party, which also topped September’s national polls but was excluded from coalition talks.
SPÖ Mayor Michael Ludwig retained control of Vienna with 39% of the vote, a marginal dip from 2020, extending his party’s unbroken 79-year hold on the city. However, the FPÖ’s gains—particularly in working-class districts—highlight deepening fractures in the SPÖ’s traditional base, with voters increasingly drawn to hardline rhetoric on immigration and crime.
Meanwhile, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), part of the federal coalition, suffered a humiliating collapse, plummeting to fifth place with just 9.6%, its worst-ever performance in Vienna. The liberal NEOS, meanwhile, celebrated a breakthrough, securing nearly 10% to solidify their role as the SPÖ’s junior coalition partner.
Analysts attribute the ÖVP’s decline to voter fatigue over corruption scandals and its failure to counter the FPÖ’s messaging.
