Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), led by Herbert Kickl, won 29.2% of the vote, surpassing the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) but falling short of a majority. Kickl celebrated the victory as historic, amid high voter turnout focused on migration, asylum, the economy, and the Ukraine war. Despite the win, the ÖVP refuses to join a coalition with Kickl, citing his conspiracy theories. The FPÖ’s success follows a trend of far-right gains in Europe, with Kickl promising to build “Fortress Austria” and aligning with Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler cautioned against Austria following Hungary’s path.