In Austria's general election on Sunday, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), led by Herbert Kiekel, made a dramatic victory with 28.8% of the vote, leading over the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which suffered a big loss and dropped to 26%.
This is the highest result achieved by the Freedom Party since World War II, marking a political turning point in the country.
The FPÖ's victory reflects the strengthening of far-right parties across Europe. The surprising result stems mainly from the strong public support for issues of immigration restrictions, nationalism, and a pro-Russian stance, which Kikel highlighted in his election campaign.
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), led by Karl Nehammer, suffered a significant decline in public support, mainly due to corruption and the economic crisis that deepened public discontent.
* Channel 14 contributed to this article.