Europe is on course to get its first millennial leader. Centre-right candidate Sebastian Kurz will most likely be the new chancellor of Austria with 31,4% of the vote (a higher proportion of the votes than his age: 31). The eurosceptic, anti-immigration Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is second with 27.4%, ahead of the Social Democratic SPÖ. Austria, then, has clearly moved to the right. But what do these election results mean for Europe?
Sebastian Kurz has followed in the footsteps of France’s Emmanuel Macron by crafting a highly personalised movement around his candidacy. However, where Macron was more relaxed about migration and took a global outlook, Kurz has promised a much more hardline approach.
Coalition negations are currently underway. Given that the previous “grand coalition” between Kurz’ conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democratic SPÖ collapsed acrimoniously, it seems unrealistic to expect the SPÖ and the ÖVP to kiss and make up. Therefore, the right-wing populist FPÖ will also likely be involved in the government.
This should suit the FPÖ, as the election campaign itself was dominated by the refugee crisis. Both the ÖVP and FPÖ demand a tougher refugee policy and want to limit the influence of the EU in this area. Of course, a welcoming culture towards refugees is not exactly the consensus view in Europe today, so all this doesn’t necessarily mean a setback for Emmanuel Macron’s fight for EU reforms.
Will Sebastian Kurz, the EU’s youngest leader, be good for Europe? What would you like to see from any new Austrian government? Should the conservative ÖVP enter into an alliance with the eurosceptic FPÖ, or would another grand coalition be better? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Depends. In terms of immigrations (which is largely the fuel his campaign ran on) forr us southern neighbours probably not, but for the rest of Europe- maybe.
I’m not sure about anything else cocerning Austria though, there was very little talk about any other topic such as unemployment for example.
The New Austrian Prime Minister must lead the way in the European Union for establishment of a all professional EU Defense Force , creating a Fortress European Union , upgrading expanding and transforming the current European Security and Defense policy of the European Union that will create a EU Defense Force , so as to guard against external attacks on the European Union like preventing the current Turkish State Sponsored flood of illegal immigrants into the European Union from Turkey that has swamped Germany and Eastern Europe with more than 1 million illegal immigrants from Turkey .
No such thing has happened, but thanks for playing.
No such thing has happened? What? LOL living in a cave?
You have not read his manifesto have you.
Cool that other people think like me
Ignorance is Bliss !!!!
Dear Mr. Renaissance (Αναγέννηση- wrong meaning?)
……………..“The New Austrian Prime Minister must lead the way in the European Union for establishment of a all professional EU Defense Force”……????? Never!
Sorry to disappoint you! You obviously lack historical knowledge of Austria & its people & should get better informed before spreading fake Greek assumptions & confusion.
For you & all others interested in facts, kindly note:
Austria’s international legal status of “permanent neutrality” is based on its Constitutional Law on the Neutrality of Austria, in which the country declared its permanent neutrality in 1955 and committed itself to maintain and defend its neutrality with all means at its disposal. Understood?
Whoever wishes to join an “EU military alliance”- fulfilling EU’s Junker’s (wet) dream- must knock on the door of Germany & France! Never ever will the Austrian people allow- neither another disastrous military alliance nor a breach of her Constitution on Neutrality- where East can meet the West in peace!
The signed Moscow Memorandum on May 15, 1955 on Austria’s permanent neutrality will & must always prevail!
who will be in charge of this European defense force?
Possible solution is for establishment of a EU Commissioner of Defense that will report directly to the Heads of State of all participating EU member states and all participating EU member State governments and Defense Ministers , that are part of the EU Defense Force , which can be created TODAY though the EU Enhanced co-operation mechanism by-passing all those that want to remain outside as was the case with the Euro, just as the Eurozone has its own mechanisms , a EU Defense Force will have its own mechanisms funded by the ECB that report directly to the national governments of the EU Defense Force making the EU a global Superpower where the sun will never set !!!
Αναγέννηση Keep dreaming comrade, keep dreaming lol
Ivan Burrows The Reality and situation of the ground is no dream. We have faith in ourselves believing with passion in our heart , looking to the future , constantly pushing for the highest level outcome that can be achieved, creating something that is forever invincible. We keep holding on a Federal Europe with a EU Defense Force pushing on and on changing the world in the process. Nothing is impossible. Recent History has shown that we are correct .Full throttle on a Federal European Global Super-Power with a all professional EU Defense Force. With the creation of a EU Defense Force will be like creating 27 new nuclear European Super-Powers of the same stature as the office of the French President, overpowering BREXIT Britain and all hostile opponents to the European Union, and putting a end to the British State Sponsored Turkish Military invasion and occupation of EU member Cyprus since 1974 , with a VETO from Cyprus and Greece on any Soft BREXIT outcome if there is no termination of the British State Sponsored Turkish Military invasion and occupation of EU member Cyprus since 1974 , ending the British – Turkish alliance against the Americans in Cyprus since 1950 that resulted in throwing the American Military into a decade long Iraqi quagmire destroying Dubya’s PAX AMERICANA with his America First . The British Empire and Ottoman Turkish Empire had the Americans for Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner in Iraq for more than one decade, devastating the American military . How will President Trump with his America First policy react to this treachery by the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire against the United States .
Αναγέννηση Who is this ‘we’ you keep banging on about ? Time and time again the peoples of Europe reject your federalist ideology so you speak only for a small minority of fanatics like you, everyone else is a Nationalist as the victory of the right in Austria proves.
https://www.thelocal.fr/20160330/france-home-to-more-eurosceptics-than-the-uk
………….”a EU Defense Force….. funded by the ECB……” The ECB? OMG!
Αναγέννηση, another grotesque suggestion! Most people think it was to maintain price stability within the Eurozone- not to finance your ambitions to settle Greek’s historical scores by war.
Previous corrupt Greek governments overspent massively on arms & other items, which bankrupted your country- now you weirdly suggest the “ECB” should agree & do a “Greek stunt” to bankrupt the EU or Europe as well?
That is surely not how to achieve an “EU renaissance”! Please, it’s time to sober up!
1999 truly was a lifetime ago. Astounding how much the Zeitgeist has changed in Europe.
Adapt or die.
European generosity is being abused.
To have peace one must be able to win the war.
Good for Austria and democracy but very bad for the EU.
why bad for the EU??? (explain in details) 😁
Gunter Turker I will make it simple for you, Juncker & Macron demand a United states of Europe., Kurz says no. Detailed enough for you ?
Maybe rephrased, bad for the rampant federalists within the EU but good for the people of the EU as his opinions look like they may bring some democratic balance (i.e. common sense)
Will Sebastian Kurz, the EU’s youngest leader, be good for Europe?
Way too early to see if he intends to live up to his promises and expectations. Remember Tsipras. Full of will do with nothing achieved.
And as important he is young and inexperienced. He will be paid off easily. Look at the clown Macron.
He might save EU from its selfdestructive politics
Europe? What do you mean? EU? He has been elected in Austria! Austria is in europe aund EU. But it is neither Europe nor EU.
I hope another coalition is formed with the socialists and this guy Kurz can have a firm firm hand, anti inmigration (and better integration for those already there) anti corruption, anti stupid liberal policies like extending birth permision for men (economic suicide, timmermans is crazy) and at the same time be pro-EU, i hope he revives the glory of Viena and Austria, a key member of the union, and my ideal location for the true European Capital (Zurich seems impossible but that would be the ideal, the headquarters of the EU a giant mountain castle in Zurich
For Europe YES but for the Eu leaders who betrayed Europe NO !!
http://slavkozharkov.over-blog.com/2017/10/2020.html
Obviously to early to say.
I guess hes somewhere between Merkel and Orban. But not sure.
What is good for Europe?
Kick out US influence. Reduce immigration.
Stop trying to eliminate tradition.
“Kick out US influence”…not sure where you get that from, the whole concept of the EU (EEC) was driven by Frances rampant anti-Americism….. and still is to this day
Eventually but he must do something about his haircut…
What would you like to see from any new Austrian government?
To be sober, and push forward the European defense integration.
Step in to defend European people, and be pragmatical.
And bring to light a proud European right wing policy, without which Europe will never fly.
Honestly, when Kurz came on the scene as a baby-faced foreign minister a few years ago, it made me think this was another example of European countries no longer being serious. However, he seems to be, like Macron, actually something of a dynamic figure able to break through and do away with the old, decrepit party-systems. Unlike Macron, however, Kurz seems to be embodying an identitarian, pro-European, but anti-immigration turn, notably by his openness to working with the FPÖ. Perhaps Kurz is a step towards a return to democracy and sanity in Europe!
onlz if the bureaucrats in Brussels will follow his example
Welcome UE Prime Minister of Austria
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
he will show all Europe what’s a fact and how things have to be done… OUR OWN CITIZENS 1st…
Why not? In your opinion should be left wing to be good?
I didn’t know he existed until today.
Who voted him in?
I think he’s got a good political backgroun and clear ideas, maybe not as the EU would bless.
Very good for Europe
Great great mistake Ms Hill
Sebastiano Merli I don’t see it
nazis will evantually rise to power in all welfare states.
not sure about that
This is good for anything.nazist and nazism out law.we want to be free to choose like to live and how!
Europe will be very good. Best people in the world. Politicians aren’t important.
For Austria yes, but for the others I do not think so!
I know it’s only the Express and need to be taken with a huge mountain of salt but it wouldn’t surprise me ….EU democracy at it’s best, doesn’t matter who the public vote for they will be “persuaded” to toe the EU party line.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/867384/austria-election-sebastian-kurz-european-union-jean-claude-junker
Yes. If you mention “Europe” one normally refers to the “Council of Europe” (CoE) who consists of 47 member states. Austria is a CoE member state since 1956 & EU member since 1995.
Mr. Kurz is Austria’s youngest Foreign Minister since 2013 and held the rotating 6 month Chairmanship of the “Council of Europe” from Nov 13- May 14.
He seems to possess a rare & good diplomatic sense and smartness to balance Austria’s interest in “Europe” (CoE), the economic advantages of the EU and the responsibility of protecting and not selling out his homeland to anybody (easily).
It is very unfortunate but pc nowadays that a sovereign state’s duty “to protect” is labeled as anti EU, “far right” and eventually penalized by sanctions.
That makes the EU a dangerous & threatening concept if not reformed!
Sebastian can help the European peoples to shape a stronger alliance against the Fata Morgana Party (FMP), formerly known as CDU, in Germany. A few European top politicians should stay real.
Sebastian and Emmanuel can lead Europe as a good lot of Germans, let alone eastern Europeans, don’t see their capital in Berlin any longer.
Ooo
În problema imigrării musulmanilor , Emanuel Macron , probabil are în vedere schimbarea nevestei cu alta mai tînără și mai prolifică ,din zona Magreb , de asta este mai relaxat cu această problemă …? Sebastian Kurz este un tînăr nealterat în tainele politicii și trebuie să-i dați credit !