Far-Right Freedom Party Member Elected Speaker of Austrian Parliament

In a historic move, Walter Rosenkranz, a member of the far-right Freedom Party, was elected speaker of the Austrian parliament.

Last month, the Freedom Party had a strong performance in national elections, and Rosenkranz’s election to the speakership marks the first time a representative from the Freedom Party has held such a prominent position in Austria’s political landscape.

Rosenkranz, a lawyer and former leader of the Freedom Party’s parliamentary group, won the backing of 100 out of 183 lawmakers in the inaugural session of the new parliament.

Rosenkranz Becomes First Freedom Party Speaker

Despite Rosenkranz’s election, many votes went to other lawmakers, reflecting the contentious nature of his appointment.

The position of speaker, traditionally held by the leading party, is one of the highest-ranking posts in Austrian politics.

Rosenkranz’s ascent to the role follows his tenure as a member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board, which handles citizen complaints about public administration. Though he has secured the role of speaker, his Freedom Party is unlikely to play a role in Austria’s next government.

Coalition Challenges for Government Formation

Regardless of the Freedom Party’s electoral success, forming a government in Austria remains complex. President Alexander Van der Bellen recently bypassed tradition by not offering the leader of the first-placed party the chance to form a government.

Instead, he tasked incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the conservative Austrian People’s Party with that responsibility.

Nehammer now faces the challenge of building a coalition to secure a parliamentary majority. However, his party has made it clear that it would not form an alliance with the Freedom Party, particularly under its leader, Herbert Kickl.

Other parties in the newly formed parliament—including the center-left Social Democrats, the liberal Neos and the environmentalist Greens—have also expressed their refusal to collaborate with the Freedom Party.

Freedom Party Stays on the Sidelines

In 2022, Rosenkranz ran as the Freedom Party’s candidate in the presidential election and finished a distant second behind Van der Bellen. Despite his new position as speaker, the Freedom Party’s involvement in government is set to remain limited.

Kickl has insisted that the Freedom Party would only join the government if he were to become chancellor, a scenario that appears unlikely at present.

Nehammer has indicated that he will attempt to form a coalition with the Social Democrats and one of the smaller parties, either the Neos or the Greens, to ensure a governing majority.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.