Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria’s anti-globalist Freedom Party (FPÖ), has praised the German CDU/CSU alliance for embracing migration policies that closely mirror those of his party. As the FPÖ continues negotiations with the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) to form a new government, Kickl expressed satisfaction: “It is gratifying that the German CDU has now also adopted FPÖ policies at a time when we are currently holding government negotiations with its sister party, the ÖVP on this topic, among others.”
On January 29, 2025, the CDU/CSU pushed a non-binding motion through the Bundestag focused on tightening border controls and curbing illegal migration. The motion calls for the permanent reintroduction of border checks, revoking the citizenship of dual nationals convicted of serious crimes, detaining those due for deportation, and relocating asylum processes outside Germany and the EU.
The proposal gained support from the anti-globalist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), marking the first time in history that the Bundestag saw such backing from the AfD for a motion. This move has sparked strong criticism from Germany’s governing Social Democrats and Greens, who condemned the CDU/CSU for dismantling the “firewall” that had previously kept the AfD politically isolated.
Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, defended his decision, stressing that his priority was the safety of German citizens, especially following recent violent incidents involving migrants. He argued that this concern outweighed the importance of maintaining distance from the AfD and was willing to accept their votes in order to push through stricter asylum policies.
Austria’s FPÖ has faced similar obstacles. Despite winning the 2024 national elections, the country’s president bypassed Kickl’s party, instead instructing the ÖVP to form a government. After coalition talks with the Social Democrats and the liberal NEOS party collapsed, the FPÖ was finally invited to form a government with the ÖVP, which shares its anti-globalist stance on immigration.
Polls from September revealed that migration is the top concern for 43% of Austrians, with crime—closely associated with migration—ranking second with 34%. The FPÖ ran on a “Fortress Austria” platform, calling for the suspension of asylum applications, enhanced border protection, and the deportation of migrants who fail to meet asylum criteria.
In his recent comments, Kickl emphasized that illegal migration should no longer just be managed, but actively combated and stopped. He outlined plans to provide in-kind assistance instead of cash to migrants, prioritize deportations over new asylum applications, and limit access to healthcare for migrants, offering only emergency care.
These proposals aim to discourage migrants from attempting to enter Austria, but whether the ÖVP will align with the FPÖ on these divisive issues remains to be seen. Coalition talks are still underway, and the final outcome is yet to be determined.
